Final answer:
Poststructuralism is a critical framework that challenges traditional structures of power, knowledge, and identity, as demonstrated by theorists such as Michel Foucault and Pierre Bourdieu.
Step-by-step explanation:
Poststructuralism and Critical Theory
Poststructuralism is a philosophical and critical framework that emerged as a response to structuralism, which had highlighted the significance of language in understanding meaning and reality. Michel Foucault and Pierre Bourdieu are key figures in poststructuralist thought, contributing transformative ideas regarding power, knowledge, and societal structure. Foucault proposed that power is not a static entity held by individuals or groups, but rather a pervasive network influencing knowledge production and societal norms. He argued for the importance of genealogy to reveal the 'constructed' nature of societal values. Pierre Bourdieu, another poststructuralist thinker, contributed significantly to our understanding of cultural capital and social fields. Poststructuralists like Foucault and Bourdieu challenge traditional ideas of an inherent 'self' and emphasize the relative meaning derived from the audience's interpretation over authorial intent in texts—a concept known as deconstruction.