Structuralism suggests that all texts and artforms have an underlying structure that influences their meaning. It was developed in the 1960s-70s by thinkers like Foucault and Lacan. According to structuralism, meaning is cultural - how something is understood depends on the audience's context and what they know. Key terms in structuralism include paradigms, iconography, structure, denotation, and connotation.

1. Structuralism
Zoë Freeman

2. • Foucault and Lacan (1960s-70s) – developed the theory of
structuralism suggesting that structure exists in all texts and art-forms
• Meaning is cultural – the way we understand things is reliant on what we
know culturally, this differs depending on the audience’s context
Key terms for this theory:
• Paradigms – codes and conventions of the genre – audience recognise
paradigms and bring expectations to their reading of the text
• Iconography – main signs/symbols (characters, props, setting)
• Structure – narrative, the way the story is put together (structure = plot)
• Denotation – what it is
• Connotation – what is culturally constructed
• Microelements include: camera angles, mis-en-scene, lighting, sound, and
editing