How did Jacques Derrida’s later work focus on literature and avant-garde writers?

Jacques Derrida’s later work shifted from a primary focus on philosophical deconstruction to an emphasis on literature. During this period, he increasingly explored the singularity of literary works and the complex play of meaning found in the texts of avant-garde writers, including Stéphane Mallarmé, Francis Ponge, James Joyce, and Jean Genet.1

This transition was marked by an interest in how language can incite thought through experimental forms, such as his 1974 book Glas, which utilized a two-column layout to juxtapose philosophical analysis with discussions of Genet’s work. Beyond these literary engagements, his later career also addressed diverse topics including psychoanalysis, the legacy of Marxism, and various political, legal, and ethical issues.1