Learning objectives: To apply Levi Strauss theory of Binary opposition to texts.
Key words: Opposite, ideology, Structuralist,
Claude Lévi-Strauss (1908 – 2009) was a French narrative theorist and anthropologist. He argued 'that the "savage" mind has the same structures (untamed human thought) as the "civilized" mind and that human characteristics are the same everywhere.
BINARY OPPOSITION’S THEORY
His theory was that the way we understand certain words doesn’t depend on the meaning it creates but more on our understanding of the difference between the word and its opposite, the binary oppositions.
He realised that words purely act as symbols for the ideas of society and the meaning of words, therefore, he believed that there was a relationship between opposing ideas.
Binary oppositions can be found in a range of media products such as a film trailers.
EXAMPLES OF BINARY OPPOSITIONS:
Binary oppositions can be found in a range of media products such as a film trailers.
We easily understand the concept of GOOD as being the opposite of EVIL.
Levi-Strauss was not so interested in looking at the order in which events were arranged in the plot or the narrative.
He was interested in how our views of things were shaped by dominant ideology.
Below is an image that represents a happy family as set out in dominant British ideologies.
Handsome, healthy and perfect smiles on the faces of the young family.
This is what we are told to aspire to, this is an ideal, success, in the West.
Dominant ideology is the set of common values and beliefs shared by most people in a given society, framing how the majority think about a range of topics.
The items on the left hand side of the list below are what media texts set out as ideological in the West.
Levi Strauss was a Structuralist.
This can be said to be a set of ideas which emphasise two positions.
Structuralists argue that the human psyche makes us act in ways that we may not be aware of or don't know why.
For example, a culture organises its rules on food using different sets of rules:
Exclusion, English see eating frogs and snails as a barbaric but it is a French custom.
Opposition, savoury and sweet courses are not usually eaten together.
Association, Steak and chips followed by ice cream are OK but steak and ice cream followed by chips is considered to be odd.
Only within such sets of rules (ideology) would certain combinations be valued or seen as wrong/rebellious/eccentric.
Schindler's List
Key words: Opposite, ideology, Structuralist,
Claude Lévi-Strauss (1908 – 2009) was a French narrative theorist and anthropologist. He argued 'that the "savage" mind has the same structures (untamed human thought) as the "civilized" mind and that human characteristics are the same everywhere.
BINARY OPPOSITION’S THEORY
His theory was that the way we understand certain words doesn’t depend on the meaning it creates but more on our understanding of the difference between the word and its opposite, the binary oppositions.
He realised that words purely act as symbols for the ideas of society and the meaning of words, therefore, he believed that there was a relationship between opposing ideas.
Binary oppositions can be found in a range of media products such as a film trailers.
EXAMPLES OF BINARY OPPOSITIONS:
Binary oppositions can be found in a range of media products such as a film trailers.
We easily understand the concept of GOOD as being the opposite of EVIL.
Levi-Strauss was not so interested in looking at the order in which events were arranged in the plot or the narrative.
He was interested in how our views of things were shaped by dominant ideology.
Below is an image that represents a happy family as set out in dominant British ideologies.
Handsome, healthy and perfect smiles on the faces of the young family.
This is what we are told to aspire to, this is an ideal, success, in the West.
Dominant ideology is the set of common values and beliefs shared by most people in a given society, framing how the majority think about a range of topics.
The items on the left hand side of the list below are what media texts set out as ideological in the West.
Examples of Binary Opposites
Good vs Evil,
Boy vs Girl,
Peace vs War,
Civilised vs Savage,
Democracy vs Dictatorship,
First world vs Third world,
Domestic vs foreign/alien,
Articulate vs inarticulate ,
Young vs Old,
Man vs Nature,
Protagonist vs antagonist,
Action vs inaction,
Motivator vs observer,
Empowered vs victim ,
Man vs Woman,
Good looking vs Ugly,
Strong vs weak,
Decisive vs indecisive,
East vs West,
Humanity vs technology,
Ignorance vs wisdom
Levi Strauss was a Structuralist.
This can be said to be a set of ideas which emphasise two positions.
Structuralists argue that the human psyche makes us act in ways that we may not be aware of or don't know why.
For example, a culture organises its rules on food using different sets of rules:
Exclusion, English see eating frogs and snails as a barbaric but it is a French custom.
Opposition, savoury and sweet courses are not usually eaten together.
Association, Steak and chips followed by ice cream are OK but steak and ice cream followed by chips is considered to be odd.
Only within such sets of rules (ideology) would certain combinations be valued or seen as wrong/rebellious/eccentric.
• Good vs evil, this is shown in genres such as action and thrillers in a protagonist and antagonist role.
• Dark vs light, this is again shown in action/thriller/horror films.
• Past vs future, this can be shown in action and history genres,
• Feminine vs masculine this is particularly seen in horror/ thriller films as females are generally seen as being victims and males are seen to be killers. If a text goes against this it can be said to be challenging conventions.
Homework:
Task 2: Below are some links to trailers.
Watch them and identify any binary opposites that have been put in place to reveal the structure of the text.
Work on the handouts provided and submit on Monday 13.12.14
Fright Night
Binary oppositions are sets of opposite values which reveal the structure of media texts.
An example would be GOOD and EVIL.
He looked instead for deeper arrangements of themes.
We definine terms as being opposite to other terms; woman/man, black/white, hot/cold, up/down.
Woman is almost always defined as the opposite to man.
We define feminity in relation to masculinity.
The moment we are born we reach for pink or blue baby clothes.
Genre is an in-separable part of understanding how meanings are encountered in practice and this blend of repetition and difference is key to us making sense of the information we are given.
Task 1: Titanic.
We definine terms as being opposite to other terms; woman/man, black/white, hot/cold, up/down.
Woman is almost always defined as the opposite to man.
We define feminity in relation to masculinity.
The moment we are born we reach for pink or blue baby clothes.
Genre is an in-separable part of understanding how meanings are encountered in practice and this blend of repetition and difference is key to us making sense of the information we are given.
Task 1: Titanic.
The narrative of the Titanic (US 1997) works partly through differences.
How many of the structuring oppositions of the film are visible here?
Task 2: Below are some links to trailers.
Watch them and identify any binary opposites that have been put in place to reveal the structure of the text.
Work on the handouts provided and submit on Monday 13.12.14
Fright Night
Schindler's List
The Amazing Spiderman
Role Models
P.S. I Love You
The Amazing Spiderman
Role Models
P.S. I Love You
Year 11 GCSE Media Studies
Name___________________________
Levi Strauss – Binary Opposites
Task 1: Titanic
still
Visible
structuring oppositions of the film
Binary opposites
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What does this make us think?
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Task 2: Fright
Night
Binary opposites
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What does this make us think?
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Schindler’s List
Binary opposites
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What does this make us think?
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Binary opposites
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What does this make us think?
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Role Models
Binary opposites
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What does this make us think?
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