French theorists Claude Levi-Strauss and Roland Barthes developed the idea of structuralism and binary opposites, the concept that meaning arises from the relationship between opposing ideas. They believed that reality exists externally and can only be understood through ideas and their opposites. Jacques Derrida later expanded on this, noting that within a given culture one half of a binary pair is often viewed as positively or superior to its unmarked opposite. Structuralism analyzed how binary pairs shape cultural interpretation and meaning-making.

2.  Two French theorists, Claude Levi Strauss and Roland Barthes developed
the idea of binary opposites as part of a late twentieth century theory of
the meaning called ‘Structuralism’.
 They work on the fact that reality must always remain ‘out there’
 e.g. reality can only exist in the form of ideas
 e.g. we can get no closer to reality than a form of an idea.
 Our meaning must be ‘culturally created’. This means that the meaning
we accept for things is not our meaning as it comes from someone else.

3.  The theorists when even further into the theory. They both realised that
meaning can never reside entirely within a thing in itself but only from a
complex appreciation of a things opposite- what they called its Binary
Opposite.
 They also said that words and images act as no more than symbols for
ideas and make meaning because of the difference between opposing
ideas.
 Barthes suggested, as members of a culture or group, we subconsciously
apply a very similar set of binaries when we interpret meaning. These
binary pairs work to shape our particular interpretations and responses to
a ‘thing’.
A system of differences
between one idea and an
Binary Opposite
opposing idea

4.  This man Jacques Derrida ( a French Philosopher) took the
idea even further.
 He notices that one half of a binary pair is somehow
‘culturally marked’ as positive and so is more valued
within a group, society or culture, while is unmarked
opposite is viewed less positively or even negatively.
 These ideas can be said to represent reality but such labels
can never be more than a version of reality.

5.  Coward/Hero – Ideological Idea- shared meaning by members of the same society or
culture.
 Old/Young
 Strong/Weak
 Wealthy/Poor
 Interesting/Boring
 Pure/Impure
 Natural Artfical

6. From putting together this presentation, it has
allowed me to research into Binary
Opposition. This has helped me to
understand the topic more as this is
something that I wasn’t sure on previously.
Furthermore this presentation has also
refreshed what I did already know. From
creating this I will now be able to use this to
help me revise this topic.