D’un espace neutre
On Space and the Neuter

Summary/Abstract: This article argues that the notion of ‘space’ in Maurice Blanchot’s writings is best understood in conjunction with Jacques Derrida’s philosophy. In light of recent trends, I begin by assessing the relevance of geocriticism before dismissing it in favour of a less positivistic critical approach that takes its cues from Blanchot’s very own The Space of Literature as well as from his late works, where the ‘neuter’ occupies an increasingly pivotal position. More specifically, I bridge the gap between these two seemingly distinct concerns by drawing on a) Derrida’s analysis of the crypt, a quintessentially Blanchot-esque type of architecture, and b) his deconstructionist take on the Platonic chora, which emphasizes the neutrality of space. In closing, I briefly probe the connection between Blanchot’s ‘dis/aster,’ writing, and outer-space.

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