DECONSTRUCTING DECONSTRUCTION

The argument of Mark C. Taylor’s article, “Ironies of Deconstruction,” (Endpapers, Book Review, July 31) goes as follows. Totalitarianism is bad. “Any accomplished work of art” is totalitarian by nature, “intending its last word to be ‘the last word.’ ” Therefore, any accomplished work of art is bad (and so requires deconstruction).

Thank you, Doctor Professor Director Taylor, for handing down to all of us the last word on any accomplished work of art.

ALAN STEPHENS

SANTA BARBARA