a mute a-signifying state
1. Does "any deconstruction of this structure risks the danger of collapsing into ..." mean "any deconstruction of this structure results in the danger of collapsing into ..."?

2. What does "a mute a-signifying state" mean?

Text:
Though not reducible to them, Sherman’s work does exhibit the traps that exist in engaging with the discourse of fetishism for the representation of the female body. As the female body is already so closely aligned in the cultural imaginary with fetishism, any deconstruction of this structure risks
the danger of collapsing into a mute a-signifying state.

Question

a mute a-signifying state
1. Does "any deconstruction of this structure risks the danger of collapsing into ..." mean "any deconstruction of this structure results in the danger of collapsing into ..."?

2. What does "a mute a-signifying state" mean?

Text:
Though not reducible to them, Sherman’s work does exhibit the traps that exist in engaging with the discourse of fetishism for the representation of the female body. As the female body is already so closely aligned in the cultural imaginary with fetishism, any deconstruction of this structure risks
the danger of collapsing into a mute a-signifying state.

Answer

1. No--"X risks the danger of Y" means that if X is done then the undesirable event or state Y might occur. So Y won't occur for certain, but there's some possibility that it might, hence a risk that it might--one would be taking a chance.

2. "a mute a-signifying state" is an a-signifying state that "says" nothing.

Answer

1. No.  'results in' implies a 100% chance of --->  'the danger of collapsing...'.
By using 'risks' the writer is saying two things:
1. There is a chance or possibility of  -->  'the danger of collapsing'.  This chance is not certain.
2. The word 'risks' ALSO suggests that if this outcome ('danger of collapsing...', here) occurs, then this outcome will have a non-positive outcome. ie. The outcome, IF it occurs, won't be what is desired.

2. "a mute a-signifying state"
I'm not certain here, but this is my interpretation ...

'mute' can mean being silent or having an inability to speak.
'a-signifying'  can mean the inability to transfer or give meaning.
'state' means here the particular condition of something at a specific time.

Put together, my best guess of "the danger of collapsing into a mute a-signifying state." would be "the danger of falling back/collapsing into a non-communicative (silent) condition where meaning can't be produced.

Answers · 2

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