Derrida and "The Scientist"

Postmodernism’s departure from scientific thought, and its immersion in the subjective are illuminated through a host of different texts. Looking at the lyrics from the Coldplay song “The Scientist” we could specifically address one of the major tenets of postmodernism: the theory of differance. The song draws out the idea that a love has been lost, questions have risen, but none of them have been answered. To make sense of the chain of events within the song, we would first have to deconstruct the notion of love. In an attempt to deconstruct the concept, we would ultimately chase the word back to its origin, or into infinity. Jacques Derrida, in his essay Differance, asserts that a final deconstruction of the concept is impossible when he states, “In the end, it is a strategy without finality” (Derrida 282).

Derrida also maintains, “Within a language, within the system of language, there are only differences” (Derrida 286). A major implication of this statement would be that nothing is ever finalized in terms of words, phrases, or communication. One word yields a definition, from which an infinite web of definitions can be extracted. Chris Martin’s struggle in the song suggests that he thinks there is some sort of unanswered truth to his experience, in which science and theory have evaded him. He writes, “Questions of science, science and progress do not speak as loud as my heart.” What this suggests is similar to what Derrida is saying in his discourse when he states, “Every concept is necessarily and essentially inscribed in a chain or a system, within which it refers to another and to other concepts, by the systematic play of differences” (Derrida 285). Chris Martin’s confusion regarding his situation makes sense when we look at it in terms of Derrida’s theory; we can only begin to make sense of what something is after we have figured out what it is not. What Derrida is saying is that Chris Martin may never find the answer to his questions.

This song brings to light the larger implications of this Derridean concept. Looking at the word love, in the postmodern and subjective sense, we find that Chris Martin’s struggles mean everything and nothing at all. The word “love” is so big that its chain of signification will never be broken. Therefore, Chris Martin’s last phrase, “Running in circles, chasing our tails, coming back as we are,” illuminates the issue that Derrida points toward when he says “[…] it designates the unity of chance and necessity in and endless calculus” (Derrida 282).

Ultimately, we are not comforted by science, nor are we comforted by postmodern logic. At least in terms of matters of the heart, as we have seen though the struggles of Chris Martin, these things are painful to dissect.

Works Cited
Derrida, Jacques. "Literary Theory: An Anthology." Eds. Julie Rivkin and Michael Ryan. Blackwell Publishing. Maldon, Ma, 2004. (278-299).
Martin, Chris. “The Scientist.” Lyrics. A Rush of Blood to the Head. Parlophone, 2002.