CLAUDE LEVI-STRAUSS

Levi-Strauss argued that all narratives could be reduced down to binary opposites. Levi-

Strauss introduced the notion of binary oppositions as a useful way to consider the

production of meaning within narratives. He argued that all construction of meaning was

dependent, to some degree, on these oppositions.

He realised that worlds simply act as symbols for society’s ideas and that the meaning of words was a

relationship rather than a fixed thing just a relationship between opposing ideas.

Examples:

Good Evil

White Black

Strong Weak

Peace War

Protagonist

Antagonist

Light Dark

Levi-Strauss theory is conflict based around the opposites and that binary

opposites is central of narrative structure. For

example, in action movies there always is protagonist

and antagonist, one of them is strong and other is

weaker.