Structuralism summary

Structuralism introduction

Structuralist theorist are those people who identify and analyse the structure that underlies all cultural phenomena. they want to understand the deep structure of all things, and to do this they look at many texts and evidence, pick out trends and analyse them.

Ferdinand de Saussure is an example of a structuralist, and he came up with the idea that language is a "sign system" made up of unchanging patterns and rules. for structuralists language can be any form of singling, anything that involves communication , and this can also be a red flag. 

When it comes to literature structuralist theorists want to discover the structures and rules that govern the way literacy works. for example plot, character, conflict are structures that can be found in all novels.

Structuralism can be applied to anything you want to learn, and it involves understanding the basic patterns that govern the way we behave,  how we speak and the way we write.

No theories would exist if it weren't for structuralism.

key words

Structure - there is always some sort of structure underlying all cultural phenomena.

Signifier- A marker that refers to a specific  concept - the word "tree"

Signified- The concept that the signifier refers to - the actual tree

Sign - made up of both signifier and signified - 

Semiology - discipline which studies signs

Binary opposition - a pair of words or concepts that have opposite meanings - man/woman

Discourse -the texts, narrative or statements that make up a speech or dialogue 

Eminem notes

His hand is on his heart- this could signifier that he has a lot of passion for music. as he is a successful artist, he it could highlight how passionate he is about it.

it can also signify that he is making promise to his fans not to go back to the addictions he had in the past years. He is promising his family that he is not going to go back to the drug addiction he has been going through in the past years.

the shadow on his face could suggests that he is trying to scape from the dark years, and he is trying to leave them behind.