Writing as Reading itself: A Derridean Reading of Lost in the Funhouse

Abstract

Lost in the Funhouse is like textbook illustration of Derrida’s views on language and writing. The book is both a guide for “how not to write” and “how not to define” writing, thus defying an ultimate center. Although the lack of a “proper” theme and heavy metafictional structure makes it “difficult to read”, it is a struggle to subvert the definitions of writing. The author deconstructs the conventional form and theme that is believed to be necessary for writing. In this respect, Barth operates through the narratives like Derrida moves through ideas in history, and ending up with the conclusion that interplay is what matters rather than a fixed meaning.