Deconstructing Meta-structures

An Analysis of Linguistic and Stylistic Quirks in Shoaib Bin Hassan’s Essays

Abstract

This research is a deconstructive analysis of Shoaib Bin Hassan’s essays taken from his anthology Aesthetics of Incompleteness. It aims to trace specific textual patterns in Hassan’s writings which defy linguistic and stylistic meta-structures. The objective of this paper is to unearth stylistic techniques and unusual linguistic expressions which mark textual fragmentation being a prevalent aspect of poststructuralist discourse. These techniques include code-switching, genre-mixing, puns and paradoxes, unusual symbolic and metaphorical references, formation of new expressions, and a tone that celebrates the disunity of language.

The deconstructionist philosophy which provides the theoretical backdrop for this paper is propounded by Peter Barry, Catherine Belsey and Andrew Benjamin. Analyzing the primary text through deconstructive lens, this paper proves how poststructuralist texts

quintessentially reject the grand-narratives of structuralist discourse based on fixity of language and expression, meanings and style. Rejecting fixed structures, this research highlights disunity – a prominent aspect of 21st century postmodern literature – and offers insights into similar innovations for further research.