The document discusses how Source A from the exam question encodes binary oppositions between Queen Elizabeth and Meghan Markle. It analyzes how the image layout, facial expressions, and anchoring text position the two figures as opposites in terms of age, duty, tradition vs progressivism, and unity vs disunity. It explains how the language of the headline, sub-headlines and introductory text use this opposition to implicitly criticize Markle without explicitly stating it. The cultural representation suggests British values are duty, tradition and authenticity as embodied by the Queen, which appeals to the right-wing readership of the Daily Mail.

1. UNSEEN NEWSPAPERS
LEVI STRAUSS

2. Question:
Analyse the different social and cultural representations in Sources A and B.
Apply Levi-Strauss’s theory of binary opposition in your answer.

3. Question:
Analyse the different social and cultural representations in Sources A and B.
Apply Levi-Strauss’s theory of binary opposition in your answer.

4. Question:
Analyse the different social and cultural representations in Sources A and B.
Apply Levi-Strauss’s theory of binary opposition in your answer.
What do the two sources suggest about British culture?
What do the two sources suggest about British society?

5. Question:
Analyse the different social and cultural representations in Sources A and B.
Apply Levi-Strauss’s theory of binary opposition in your answer.
What do the two sources suggest about British culture?
What do the two sources suggest about British society?
Culture:
The ideas, customs, values and behaviours of a particular society

6. Question:
Analyse the different social and cultural representations in Sources A and B.
Apply Levi-Strauss’s theory of binary opposition in your answer.
What do the two sources suggest about British culture?
What do the two sources suggest about British society?
Culture:
The ideas, customs, values and behaviours of a particular society
Society:
A group of people living together in a (more or less) ordered community

7. Question:
Analyse the different social and cultural representations in Sources A and B.
Apply Levi-Strauss’s theory of binary opposition in your answer.

8. Question:
Analyse the different social and cultural representations in Sources A and B.
Apply Levi-Strauss’s theory of binary opposition in your answer.
ACCORDING TO THE EXAM BOARD
Structuralism is the study of the hidden rules that govern a structure.
Levi-Strauss thought that the human mind could be investigated by studying the
fundamental structure underlying myths and fables from around the world
(which he saw as one unitary system). He developed the idea of the ‘binary
opposition’ – that the system of myths and fables was ruled by a structure of
opposing terms, e.g. hot-cold, male-female, culture-nature, raw-cooked.
Many writers have analysed media products using the idea of the binary
opposition, but seeing the overall system as ‘ideology’ rather than ‘human
consciousness’

9. Question:
Analyse the different social and cultural representations in Sources A and B.
Apply Levi-Strauss’s theory of binary opposition in your answer.
IN OUR ESSAY
Levi-Strauss developed the idea that the structure of the underlying myths that
shape culture is governed by binary oppositions. Ideas like tradition stand in
opposition to ideas like progress, young opposes old etc.

10. Question:
Analyse the different social and cultural representations in Sources A and B.
Apply Levi-Strauss’s theory of binary opposition in your answer.
IN OUR ESSAY
Levi-Strauss developed the idea that the structure of the underlying myths that
shape culture is governed by binary oppositions. Ideas like tradition stand in
opposition to ideas like progress, young opposes old etc.
Now we look at each source in turn and ask ourselves:
What are the binary oppositions?
What do they say about British culture/society?

11. Image
Layout: Meghan and Queen are
literally opposite each other.
Layout: Incline of image suggests
attempt to distance.
Image selection (facial expression):
Meghan smug / Queen friendly
Binary Opposition Constructed:
Young vs Old
Progressive vs Traditional
Anchoring Text
Speaking Out:
Public discussion of private matters.
Speech:
Doing duty as monarch
Teasers
Nazanin: free at last!
Encodes freedom vs imprisonment
Beat Diabetes:
Encodes health vs disease
Banner Headline
Reads almost like a proclamation:
“duty means everything”
implies lack of duty is meaningless
(Meghan is pointless?)
Sub-headline
“real service”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is fake.
Sub-headline
“bombshell”
Reinforces the idea of binary
opposition by using the Semantic field
of warfare
Stand First
“dedication to duty”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is not dutiful or dedicated.
According to the Daily Mail, British
culture is defined by duty, authenticity
and service. We respect the queen
and all she stands for.

12. Image
Layout: Meghan and Queen are
literally opposite each other.
Layout: Incline of image suggests
attempt to distance.
Image selection (facial expression):
Meghan smug / Queen friendly
Binary Opposition Constructed:
Young vs Old
Progressive vs Traditional
Anchoring Text
Speaking Out:
Public discussion of private matters.
Speech:
Doing duty as monarch
Teasers
Nazanin: free at last!
Encodes freedom vs imprisonment
Beat Diabetes:
Encodes health vs disease
Banner Headline
Reads almost like a proclamation:
“duty means everything”
implies lack of duty is meaningless
(Meghan is pointless?)
Sub-headline
“real service”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is fake.
Sub-headline
“bombshell”
Reinforces the idea of binary
opposition by using the Semantic field
of warfare
Stand First
“dedication to duty”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is not dutiful or dedicated.
According to the Daily Mail, British
culture is defined by duty, authenticity
and service. We respect the queen
and all she stands for.

13. Image
Layout: Meghan and Queen are
literally opposite each other.
Layout: Incline of image suggests
attempt to distance.
Image selection (facial expression):
Meghan smug / Queen friendly
Binary Opposition Constructed:
Young vs Old
Progressive vs Traditional
Anchoring Text
Speaking Out:
Public discussion of private matters.
Speech:
Doing duty as monarch
Teasers
Nazanin: free at last!
Encodes freedom vs imprisonment
Beat Diabetes:
Encodes health vs disease
Banner Headline
Reads almost like a proclamation:
“duty means everything”
implies lack of duty is meaningless
(Meghan is pointless?)
Sub-headline
“real service”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is fake.
Sub-headline
“bombshell”
Reinforces the idea of binary
opposition by using the Semantic field
of warfare
Stand First
“dedication to duty”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is not dutiful or dedicated.
According to the Daily Mail, British
culture is defined by duty, authenticity
and service. We respect the queen
and all she stands for.

14. Image
Layout: Meghan and Queen are
literally opposite each other.
Layout: Incline of image suggests
attempt to distance.
Image selection (facial expression):
Meghan smug / Queen friendly
Binary Opposition Constructed:
Young vs Old
Progressive vs Traditional
Anchoring Text
Speaking Out:
Public discussion of private matters.
Speech:
Doing duty as monarch
Teasers
Nazanin: free at last!
Encodes freedom vs imprisonment
Beat Diabetes:
Encodes health vs disease
Banner Headline
Reads almost like a proclamation:
“duty means everything”
implies lack of duty is meaningless
(Meghan is pointless?)
Sub-headline
“real service”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is fake.
Sub-headline
“bombshell”
Reinforces the idea of binary
opposition by using the Semantic field
of warfare
Stand First
“dedication to duty”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is not dutiful or dedicated.
According to the Daily Mail, British
culture is defined by duty, authenticity
and service. We respect the queen
and all she stands for.

15. Image
Layout: Meghan and Queen are
literally opposite each other.
Layout: Incline of image suggests
attempt to distance.
Image selection (facial expression):
Meghan smug / Queen friendly
Binary Opposition Constructed:
Young vs Old
Progressive vs Traditional
Anchoring Text
Speaking Out:
Public discussion of private matters.
Speech:
Doing duty as monarch
Teasers
Nazanin: free at last!
Encodes freedom vs imprisonment
Beat Diabetes:
Encodes health vs disease
Banner Headline
Reads almost like a proclamation:
“duty means everything”
implies lack of duty is meaningless
(Meghan is pointless?)
Sub-headline
“real service”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is fake.
Sub-headline
“bombshell”
Reinforces the idea of binary
opposition by using the Semantic field
of warfare
Stand First
“dedication to duty”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is not dutiful or dedicated.
According to the Daily Mail, British
culture is defined by duty, authenticity
and service. We respect the queen
and all she stands for.

16. Image
Layout: Meghan and Queen are
literally opposite each other.
Layout: Incline of image suggests
attempt to distance.
Image selection (facial expression):
Meghan smug / Queen friendly
Binary Opposition Constructed:
Young vs Old
Progressive vs Traditional
Anchoring Text
Speaking Out:
Public discussion of private matters.
Speech:
Doing duty as monarch
Teasers
Nazanin: free at last!
Encodes freedom vs imprisonment
Beat Diabetes:
Encodes health vs disease
Banner Headline
Reads almost like a proclamation:
“duty means everything”
implies lack of duty is meaningless
(Meghan is pointless?)
Sub-headline
“real service”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is fake.
Sub-headline
“bombshell”
Reinforces the idea of binary
opposition by using the Semantic field
of warfare
Stand First
“dedication to duty”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is not dutiful or dedicated.
According to the Daily Mail, British
culture is defined by duty, authenticity
and service. We respect the queen
and all she stands for.

17. Image
Layout: Meghan and Queen are
literally opposite each other.
Layout: Incline of image suggests
attempt to distance.
Image selection (facial expression):
Meghan smug / Queen friendly
Binary Opposition Constructed:
Young vs Old
Progressive vs Traditional
Anchoring Text
Speaking Out:
Public discussion of private matters.
Speech:
Doing duty as monarch
Teasers
Nazanin: free at last!
Encodes freedom vs imprisonment
Beat Diabetes:
Encodes health vs disease
Banner Headline
Reads almost like a proclamation:
“duty means everything”
implies lack of duty is meaningless
(Meghan is pointless?)
Sub-headline
“real service”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is fake.
Sub-headline
“bombshell”
Reinforces the idea of binary
opposition by using the Semantic field
of warfare
Stand First
“dedication to duty”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is not dutiful or dedicated.
According to the Daily Mail, British
culture is defined by duty, authenticity
and service. We respect the queen
and all she stands for.

18. Image
Layout: Meghan and Queen are
literally opposite each other.
Layout: Incline of image suggests
attempt to distance.
Image selection (facial expression):
Meghan smug / Queen friendly
Binary Opposition Constructed:
Young vs Old
Progressive vs Traditional
Anchoring Text
Speaking Out:
Public discussion of private matters.
Speech:
Doing duty as monarch
Teasers
Nazanin: free at last!
Encodes freedom vs imprisonment
Beat Diabetes:
Encodes health vs disease
Banner Headline
Reads almost like a proclamation:
“duty means everything”
implies lack of duty is meaningless
(Meghan is pointless?)
Sub-headline
“real service”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is fake.
Sub-headline
“bombshell”
Reinforces the idea of binary
opposition by using the Semantic field
of warfare
Stand First
“dedication to duty”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is not dutiful or dedicated.
According to the Daily Mail, British
culture is defined by duty, authenticity
and service. We respect the queen
and all she stands for.

19. Image
Layout: Meghan and Queen are
literally opposite each other.
Layout: Incline of image suggests
attempt to distance.
Image selection (facial expression):
Meghan smug / Queen friendly
Binary Opposition Constructed:
Young vs Old
Progressive vs Traditional
Anchoring Text
Speaking Out:
Public discussion of private matters.
Speech:
Doing duty as monarch
Teasers
Nazanin: free at last!
Encodes freedom vs imprisonment
Beat Diabetes:
Encodes health vs disease
Banner Headline
Reads almost like a proclamation:
“duty means everything”
implies lack of duty is meaningless
(Meghan is pointless?)
Sub-headline
“real service”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is fake.
Sub-headline
“bombshell”
Reinforces the idea of binary
opposition by using the Semantic field
of warfare
Stand First
“dedication to duty”
Implies binary opposition that
Meghan is not dutiful or dedicated.
According to the Daily Mail, British
culture is defined by duty, authenticity
and service. We respect the queen
and all she stands for.
The two images in Source A, are positioned to encode the binary
opposition between the Queen (symbolic of age, duty,
traditionalism, unity) and Meghan Markle (youth, selfishness,
progressivism, disunity). While there is no explicit condemnation
of Markle, the facial expression in the selected image connotes
smugness, while the Queen seems open and friendly. The
anchoring text further connotes the binary opposition between
them: ‘Speaking Out’ encoding a distasteful desire to speak
publicly about private issues, while the Queen is making a dutiful
“speech” in her role as monarch. The cultural representation of
the dutiful monarch in conflict with the selfish and unseemly
American, will appeal to the Mail’s right-wing readership because
it reinforces the myth of patriotism that that they value.
The language of the banner headline, sub-headlines and standfirst
uses the binary opposition between the two figures to encode a
negative response to Markle, without explicitly stating it. The use
of the semantic field of warfare in the term “bombshell”, further
reinforces the idea of opposition. The banner headline proclaims
that “duty is everything,” and the subheadline goes on to say that
this is “real service.” The encoded message is that Queen is
genuine (real) and dutiful, implying the binary opposition, that
Markle is fake and self-serving. The socio-cultural representation
implies that British culture values, duty, traditionalism and
authenticity, all of which are embodied by the Queen.

20. Image
Anchoring Text
Read More/Most viewed
(Teasers)
Banner Headline
Sub-headline
Bullets
Stand First
Copy

21. Image
Anchoring Text
Read More/Most viewed
(Teasers)
Banner Headline
Sub-headline
Bullets
Stand First
Copy