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'An aphorism, properly stamped and molded, has not been "deciphered" when it has simply been read; rather one has then to begin its interpretation, for which is required an art of interpretation.' -- Nietzsche, 'On the Genealogy of Morals'

Blanchot and writing « Previous | |Next »
November 12, 2005

Blanchot begins The Writing of the Disaster ( L'Ecriture du désastre) with:

"The disaster ruins everything, all the while leaving everything intact. It does not touch anyone in particular; "I'" am not threatened by it, but spared, left aside. It is in this way that I am threatened; it is in this way that the disaster threatens in me that which is exterior to me ---an other than I who passively become other. There is no reaching disaster. Out of reach is he whom it threatens, whether from afar or closeup, it is impossible to say: the infiniteness of the threat has in some way broken every limit. We are the edge of disaster without being able to siutate in the future: it is rather always already past and yet we are on the edge or under the threat ...."

That is how the text begins. I'm left struggling to understand. Presumably the book is in part about how one deals with disaster, the trauma of past disasters and the knowledge of the disaster to come, specifically our own death. I presuppose that the text it also cpncerned with of finding an adequate language for the expression of disaster. Hence it is on, or, the limit of writing.

I am not even sure what 'disaster ' refers to.

| Posted by Gary Sauer-Thompson at 3:59 PM | | Comments (3)
Comments

Comments

Etymologically, dis-aster means un-starred, hence, by way of traditional associations, deprived of destiny or redemption.

John,
aah thanks for that. Over the page of the text Blanchot writes:

If disaster means being separated from the star(if it means the decline which characterises disorientation when the link with fortune on high is cut), then it indicates a fall beneath disastrous necessity...The disaster is not our affairand hass no regard for us; it is the heedless unlimited; it cannot be measured in terms of failure or as pure and simple loss.

That makes passage now makes more sense when we I understand that Blanchot is talking about being deprived of destiny or redemption.

This is typical of Blanchot's writing. You feel it difficult to understand, but understanding is not important all the time. Do read my comments on Blanchot. Click here