Structuralism?Uses a semiotic perspective to analyze societies, cultural practices and

artefacts like media texts as if they were languages or signifying systems.

Todorov’s Theory of Narrativity• He suggested that conventional narrative are structures in 5 stages:1. A State of equilibrium at the onset2. A disruption of the equilibrium by some action3. A recognition that disruption has occurred4. An attempt to repair the disruption5. A reinstatement of the equilibrium

EquilibriumState of well being and normality

between protagonists

DisequilibriumWell being is disrupted by an outside force and has to events take place in order to return back to the normal

state of new equilibrium

New EquilibriumThe outer force is defeated and a new

state of well being is acquired

Some Examples of Binary Oppositions• Dark/Light• Love/Hate• Good/Evil• Masculine/Feminine• Young/Old• Hope/Despair• Pleasure/Pain• Life/Death

• Rational/Emotional• Peace/War • Black/White• Smart/Stupid• Strong/Weak• Rich/Poor• Honest/Liar • Funny/Serious

Signifier

Signified A Red Rose

Denotative meaning

A Red Rose RomanceSignifier Signified

Second order of signification= the connotative meaning

Vladimir Propp: Morphology of the Folktale• His writing on fairytales has been a large inspiration for structuralism• He noted that there are 31 ‘functions’ or ‘actions’, which are common

to all Russian fairytales • It is important to note that these 31 ‘functions’ have also been used in

order to look at the structure of mainstream texts, such as Hollywood films, TV shows, and the ways in which news is reported• If you are inclined, here is an excellent example on how these 31

functions are still relevant today: http://brooke-johnson.blogspot.ca/2012/07/back-to-basics-harry-potter-and.html

Principles of narration• Related by succession or Related by transformation• Two ways of judging transformation:• Formative power: the transformations aptitude to forming a narrative

sequence• Evocative power: serves to characterize a given fictional universe as opposed

to some other- Yet on their own does not produce a sequence in the narrative

Types of Narrative Organization• Mythological stories

• Gnoseological stories: where the event itself is less important than the perception of it, and the knowledge we have of it

• Ideological: actions are linked through the intermediary of an abstract formula

• First law: one desires what one does not have, one flees what one has• Second law: Do as little harm as possible