Levi Strauss' binary opposites theory

1. Levi Strauss binary opposites

2. To be able to apply Levi-Strauss binary opposites
narrative theory to the analysis of different film
genres (fantasy, sci-fi, action adventure, rom-com,
comedy)

3. What is Propp’s narrative theory about?
Archetypical character roles in conventional
narratives.
Which ones are the 8 Propp’s archetypical
character roles?
Hero, villain, donor, dispatcher, helper,
princess, king and false hero.

4. The Hero The helper The helper
The helper The villain
The princess
The King The false hero
Who is your favourite character in the film? Explain your answer

5. The Hero The helper The helper
The helper The villain
The princess
The King The false hero
Who do you identify with? Explain your answer

6. Archetypical characters (Vladimir Propp’s narrative theory)
such as heroes and heroines help audiences to identify with a
recognisable character with whom we share values (the
good guy, the guy who does the right thing, etc.) and engage
in the narrative to find out how that character will solve the
narrative’s conflict/problem.

7. Match these characters:

8. Each one of the
heroes of these films
has their opposite
(the villain)

9.  What are the
main binary
opposition in
this film
poster?

10.  What are the main binary oppositions in Shrek? Explain your answer.
The Hero
The villain
The princess The King
The false hero

11.  Claude Lévi-Strauss (28 Nov. 1908
– 30 Oct. 2009) was a French
anthropologist and ethnologist
 He has been called the "father of
modern anthropology“.
 Lévi-Strauss's theories are set forth
in Structural Anthropology (1958).
Briefly, he considers culture a
system of symbolic
communication.

12. LÉVI-STRAUSS, Claude. Structure and Form: Reflection on aWork by
Vladimir Propp.
 The theorist Lévi-Strauss identified that narratives work because
they are often based around the conflict between binary
oppositions.
 There is an inherent opposition between a hero and a villain,
between a woman and a man, between love and hate, between lies
and truth, etc.
 The problems in a narrative stem from the conflict between one
force and another and it is because of these conflicts that a
narrative moves forward.

13. Beginning Middle End

14.  What interested him was how much of our
understanding of the world (narrative) is described
in terms of opposites (or binary oppositions):
 God/Devil
 good/evil
 woman/man
 hero/villain

15. Conventional conflicting binary oppositions
 Villain………….Hero
 Man……………Woman
 Love…………...Hate
 Truth……...……Lies
 Good…….…….Evil
 Right….…….....Wrong
 Intelligence…....Brute force
 Law …….……..Crime

16.  What are the main
binary oppositions
in an action-
adventure film?
 How many can you
list?

17.  What are the main
binary oppositions in
in a rom-com film?
 How many can you
list?

18.  What are the
main binary
oppositions in
this film poster.
 How many can
you list?

19.  Find three different examples, from action
films (the good guy/the bad guy), or rom-coms
(man/woman) to washing powder, diet or beauty
products advertisements (before/after) of
narratives based on binary opposites.
 Include in your answer Propp’s archetypical
characters theory and link those character
roles to binary opposites between them.

20. Compare the ways heroes and villains are portrayed in a film of your
choice and answer these two questions:
 How are these characters presented to audiences?
 How are audiences expected to react to these representations?
(Think of how audiences identify with these characters)
Based on the character profiles for the lead characters in your chosen
film, answer this question:
 How would these characters appeal to the target audience? (Think
of how audiences identify with these characters)

21.  A narrative is successful when engages their target audience’s interest.
 According to Todorov, it is the disequilibrium of the story (the problem or conflict) what keeps the story moving forward
and engages the audience, who are naturally curious to find out if and how the initial equilibrium will be restored and
how this new equilibrium will look like..
 According to Vladimir Propp’s narrative theory, conventional narratives use a range of archetypical characters all
designed to help make the narrative understandable and engaging. We tend to identify with the hero or heroine in a film
because we share common values, and expect that he/she is successful in his/her mission.
 Courageous heroes and heroines make us engage in the narrative, to find out how the hero/heroine solves the
problem/conflict in the narrative and succeeds in restoring the initial equilibrium.
 Binary oppositions such as hero/villain, machines/humans, aliens/humans, good/evil, brute force/knowledge,
strength/weakness, etc. (Levi Strauss narrative theory) help audiences to identify with a recognisable character and
engage in the narrative’s conflict/problem.”

22. For an A grade you must demonstrate:
 Excellent knowledge of the conventions of action adventure films,
referring to the specific topic in the question (archetypical characters)
 Responses are supported by a minimum of three well chosen examples.
 Excellent understanding of the appeal of audience identification.
 Response is well organised and skillfully shaped.
 Written expression is accurate and clear with a varied and appropriate
use of specialist vocabulary