This document discusses several concepts from post-structuralist thinkers including Roland Barthes' idea of "jouissance" or unexpected pleasure found in transgressive films, Levi-Strauss' concept of binary oppositions that propel narratives, and Vladimir Propp's identification of 8 common character types like the hero, villain, and princess that are found across folktales and legends from different cultures.

1. Post-structuralism
Zoë Freeman

2. • Barthes – Pleasure of the Texts
• The audience know what’s happening, seeing it played out = fulfilling and
gives closure, however, there is another layer when the unexpected happens
• ‘Jouissance’ – found in transgressive films
• Levi Strauss – Binary Opposites
• Constant conflict/opposition propels the narrative
• Visual (light/dark), conceptual (love/hate), sound (loud/quiet)
• Propp – 8 Character Types
• Based on folk tales and legends that he’d studied from across the world,
found that they were all similar and the same problems/character types kept
showing up
• The Hero – on a quest, often restores equilibrium
• Villain – opposes the hero, usually the one who creates moment of
disequilibrium
• The Donor – helps hero, may result in resolution
• The dispatcher – aids the hero in task of restoring equilibrium
• The false hero – attempts to steer the hero from his quest
• The helper – helps the hero
• The princess – reward for the hero
• Her father – rewards the hero