Structuralism

Summary

This presentation delves into structuralism, a theory that views language and culture as systems with underlying orders. Pioneered by Ferdinand de Saussure, it expanded into various fields, notably influenced by Roman Jakobson and Claude Lévi-Strauss. Structuralism's key concepts include the linguistic sign and the importance of narrative structures. The theory is applied to analyze Shakespeare's 'King Lear' and Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby,' revealing how cultural signs and societal norms influence the works' meanings and characters.

Takeaways

• 📚 Structuralism is a theoretical approach that originated from Ferdinand de Saussure's work, viewing language as a system with an implied order.
• 🌐 This approach expanded beyond linguistics to influence fields like anthropology, philosophy, and cultural studies.
• 🗣️ Roman Jakobson, a key figure in formalism, contributed to French structuralism by focusing on the internal systems governing various phenomena.
• 👨‍🏫 Claude Lévi-Strauss applied structuralism to anthropology, interpreting culture as a system with an internal order that maintains stability and coherence.
• 🌲 Lévi-Strauss emphasized the role of kinship systems and marriages as a form of communication that helps resolve societal conflicts.
• 🎭 He also analyzed myths, revealing common underlying structures that serve to resolve cultural contradictions.
• 🔠 Saussure introduced the concept of the linguistic sign, which consists of a signifier (sound) and a signified (concept), forming the sign itself.
• 🔍 Roland Barthes further explored semiotics, examining how cultural elements derive meaning through their association with specific signs.
• 📚 The script provides a structural reading of 'King Lear' and 'The Great Gatsby', demonstrating how structuralism can be applied to literature.
• 🏰 In 'King Lear', structuralism helps to understand the play's events and characters as signs within the societal codes of 1606 England.
• 🏙️ 'The Great Gatsby' is analyzed through the lens of structuralism to reveal the novel's symbols and signs that reflect the moral decline and social class distinctions of 1920s America.

Q & A

What is structuralism and where did it originate?

Structuralism is a theoretical approach that views language and culture as systems characterized by internal order. It originated from the pioneering work of Ferdinand de Saussure, who viewed language as a system with an implied order.

How did Roman Jakobson contribute to the development of French structuralism?

Roman Jakobson, an influential formalist, played a key role in shaping French structuralism by focusing on understanding the internal systems and orders that govern linguistic, cultural, and literary phenomena.

What was Claude Lévi-Strauss's approach to applying structuralism to anthropology?

Claude Lévi-Strauss applied structuralism to anthropology by perceiving culture as a system with internal order that maintains stability and coherence while allowing cultural evolution. He emphasized kinship systems and marriages as forms of communication and analyzed myths for their common underlying structure.

What is the concept of the linguistic sign according to Saussure?

According to Saussure, the linguistic sign consists of a signifier (the sound itself) and a signified (the idea or concept behind it). The combination of the signifier and signified composes the sign itself.

How did Roland Barthes explore the study of signs or semiotics in literature and culture?

Roland Barthes examined how various cultural elements, such as films, commodities, events, and images, derive meaning through their association with specific signs. He analyzed the ways in which signs function to create meaning in different contexts.

What is the significance of the missing center in Henry James's Tales according to Tzvetan Todorov?

Tzvetan Todorov's work highlighted narrative structures, such as the presence of the missing center in Henry James's Tales, which serves as a common organizing element among diverse examples.

How did structuralism become the dominant intellectual school in France during the mid-1960s?

Structuralism became the dominant intellectual school in France during the mid-1960s with notable figures like Michel Foucault, Jacques Lacan, Julia Kristeva, and others contributing to its influence.

What is the role of language and conceptual frameworks in the formations of discourses according to Michel Foucault?

Michel Foucault explored the role of language and conceptual frameworks in the formations of discourses, emphasizing how changes in knowledge and language throughout history shape our understanding and construction of the world.

How does the opening scene of Shakespeare's King Lear reflect the societal codes of 1606 England?

The opening scene of King Lear, where the king divides his kingdom among his daughters, reflects the societal codes of 1606 England by questioning the king's judgment and trustworthiness, which was significant in a monarchy where the king's support stemmed from the aristocracy.

What does the billboard of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg in The Great Gatsby symbolize?

The billboard of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg in The Great Gatsby symbolizes the abandonment of the once dominant Protestant moral government by the wealthy elite who now dominate the America of the 1920s.

How does The Great Gatsby's narrative structure use paired scenes to shed light on characters and themes?

The Great Gatsby uses paired scenes, such as the contrasting hotel scenes with Tom's affair and Gatsby's interaction with Daisy, to expose the hypocrisy, immorality, and brutality of Tom and Daisy's world, while also exploring the novel's themes more positively through the relationship between Nick and Gatsby.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Structuralism

This paragraph introduces structuralism, a theory that originated from the work of Ferdinand de Saussure. It emphasizes the idea of language as a system with an underlying order, akin to looking beneath the surface of a leaf. Structuralism's influence has spread to various fields including anthropology, philosophy, and literature. Key figures like Roman Jakobson and Claude Lévi-Strauss are highlighted for their contributions to the theory, with Jakobson focusing on the internal systems governing language and culture, and Lévi-Strauss applying structuralism to anthropology to understand cultural stability and evolution. The concept of the linguistic sign, as introduced by Saussure, and the role of signs in creating meaning, as explored by Roland Barthes, are also discussed. The paragraph sets the stage for understanding structuralism's impact on the analysis of cultural phenomena.

05:02

🎭 Structural Reading of 'King Lear' and 'The Great Gatsby'

The second paragraph applies structuralism to the analysis of Shakespeare's 'King Lear' and Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'. It discusses how 'King Lear' can be read as a collection of signs with meanings rooted in the play's structure and the societal context of 1606 England. The opening scene of 'King Lear' is analyzed in terms of its significance within the play and the cultural norms of the time, such as the act of a king dividing his kingdom being perceived as madness. The paragraph also touches on the narrative structures and character symbolism within 'King Lear', and contrasts this with the use of signs and symbols in 'The Great Gatsby' to capture the essence of the 1920s American society. The billboard of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg is highlighted as a symbol of the moral oversight that has been abandoned by the wealthy elite of the era.

10:04

🔍 Deep Dive into 'The Great Gatsby' and Structuralism's Impact

The final paragraph delves deeper into 'The Great Gatsby', examining the novel's narrative structure and the use of paired scenes to contrast the hypocrisy and immorality of the old money society with the more complex and alluring character of Jay Gatsby. It discusses how Gatsby's character is portrayed as possessing fundamental decency despite his criminal involvement, challenging the moral decay embodied by characters like Tom and Daisy Buchanan. The paragraph concludes by reflecting on the broader impact of structuralism, which has revolutionized the understanding of language, culture, and literature through the analysis of underlying structures. It emphasizes how structuralism has been instrumental in critically examining cultural phenomena as seen in the analysis of 'King Lear' and 'The Great Gatsby', providing deeper insights into power dynamics, virtue, and societal norms.

Keywords

💡Structuralism

Structuralism is a theoretical approach that views phenomena as systems of interrelated parts. In the context of the video, it is used to analyze language, culture, and literature, emphasizing the underlying structures that govern these areas. The video discusses how structuralism emerged from the work of Ferdinand de Saussure and expanded into various fields, including anthropology and philosophy, to understand the internal systems and orders that maintain stability and coherence.

💡Ferdinand de Saussure

Ferdinand de Saussure is considered the father of modern linguistics and a pioneer in structuralism. The video mentions his view of language as a system with an implied order, comparable to a leaf cut transversely to reveal what lies beneath its surface. This concept is crucial for understanding the structuralist approach to language as a system of signs with both a signifier (sound) and a signified (concept).

💡Roman Jakobson

Roman Jakobson was an influential formalist who played a key role in shaping French structuralism. The video highlights his focus on understanding the internal systems and orders that govern linguistic, cultural, and literary phenomena. Jakobson's work is particularly noted for its impact on the study of signs and their functions within these systems.

💡Claude Lévi-Strauss

Claude Lévi-Strauss was a prominent anthropologist who applied structuralism to the study of culture. As mentioned in the video, he perceived culture as a system characterized by internal order, which maintains stability and coherence while allowing for cultural evolution. Lévi-Strauss's work on kinship systems and the analysis of myths as narratives resolving cultural contradictions exemplify the application of structuralism to anthropology.

💡Linguistic Sign

The concept of the linguistic sign is central to structuralist theory, as introduced by Saussure. The video explains that a linguistic sign consists of a signifier (the sound or written form of a word) and a signified (the concept it represents). This concept is used to analyze how meaning is constructed in language, as seen in the example of the word 'tree' and its associated concept.

💡Semiotics

Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation. In the video, semiotics is discussed in relation to the work of Roland Barthes, who explored how various cultural elements derive meaning through their association with specific signs. This concept is crucial for understanding how meaning is created and interpreted in literature and culture.

💡Narrative Analysis

Narrative analysis is a method of studying the structure and components of stories. The video connects French structuralism with Russian formalism through the work of Tzvetan Todorov, who focused on narrative analysis. This approach is used to identify common organizing elements in diverse narratives, such as the presence of a 'missing center' in Henry James's tales, as mentioned in the script.

💡Michel Foucault

Michel Foucault was a French philosopher who contributed to structuralism by exploring the role of language and conceptual frameworks in the formation of discourses. The video discusses his concept of 'discursive formations,' which are coherent sets of assumptions and language practices that shape our understanding and construction of the world. Foucault's work on the history of sexuality and social discipline further illustrates the influence of linguistic practices on our perception of reality.

💡King Lear

Shakespeare's play 'King Lear' is used in the video as a practical application of structuralist analysis. The video discusses how the play can be read as a collection of signs that draw upon codes of meaning specific to the work and the cultural context of 1606 England. The opening scene, where Lear divides his kingdom and the subsequent events, are analyzed for their significance within the play's structure and societal codes of the time.

💡The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald's novel 'The Great Gatsby' is another example used in the video to demonstrate structuralist analysis. The video examines how signs and symbols, such as the Dr. T.J. Eckleburg billboard, serve as powerful symbols within the novel. These elements capture the essence of the story and provide a deeper understanding of the moral decline and social class distinctions in 1920s America.

Highlights

Structuralism emerged from the pioneering work of Ferdinand de Saussure, who viewed language as a system with an implied order.

Roman Jakobson, an influential formalist, played a key role in shaping French structuralism by focusing on internal systems and orders.

Claude Lévi-Strauss applied structuralism to anthropology, perceiving culture as a system characterized by internal order.

Lévi-Strauss emphasized kinship systems and marriages as a form of communication that helps maintain cultural stability.

Myths were seen by Lévi-Strauss as narratives that resolve contradictions within a culture, despite their heterogeneity.

Saussure's concept of the linguistic sign, consisting of a signifier and a signified, was crucial to understanding language.

Roland Barthes further explored semiotics, examining how signs function to create meaning in different cultural contexts.

Tzvetan Todorov's work connected French structuralism with Russian formalism, focusing on narrative analysis.

Structuralism became the dominant intellectual school in France in the mid-1960s, with notable figures like Michel Foucault and Julia Kristeva.

Foucault explored the role of language and conceptual frameworks in the formations of discourses and their influence on knowledge and perception.

Structuralism allows for a critical examination of the underlying structures that shape cultural phenomena.

In 'King Lear,' structuralism helps understand the play as a collection of signs drawing upon codes of meaning specific to the work and its societal context.

The opening scene of 'King Lear' introduces significant elements, such as the division of the kingdom and the expression of love by the daughters.

The cultural context of 1606 England, where the play is set, is crucial for understanding the significance of the events and actions within 'King Lear.'

Characters in 'King Lear' like Goneril, Regan, and Edmund provide insights into themes of virtue and power.

The narrative structure of 'King Lear' follows a traditional pattern of life, death, and rebirth, reflecting the societal norms of the time.

In 'The Great Gatsby,' structuralism unveils the power of signs and symbols, such as the Dr. T.J. Eckleburg billboard, which signifies moral oversight.

Fitzgerald uses characters like Tom and Daisy Buchanan to epitomize the moral decline of the 1920s and the pursuit of pleasure and privilege.

The contrast between old and new money in 'The Great Gatsby' is highlighted through the characters and their actions, reflecting social class distinctions.

The structure of 'The Great Gatsby' features paired scenes that shed light on the characters and themes, exposing hypocrisy and immorality.

Structuralism has revolutionized our understanding of language, culture, and literature through the works of influential figures.

Transcripts

this is a presentation on structuralism

derived from two books on literary

Theory Rifkin and Ryan's anthology

and Ryan's practical introduction

structuralism emerged from the

pioneering work of Ferdinand jesusure

the sure viewed language as a frozen

system with an implied order comparable

to a leaf cut transversely to see what

lies underneath its surface this implied

order encompasses the entire language

system underlying any smoking utterance

structures have expanded beyond that the

field of linguistics to Fields such as

anthropology philosophy and their trick

system

Roman Jacobson an influential formalist

played a key role in shaping French

structuralism focusing on comprehending

the internal systems and orders that

govern linguistic cultural and literary

phenomena

another influential thinker is Claude

Levy Strauss who applied structuralism

to anthropology perceiving culture as a

system characterized by internal order

this order serves to maintain stability

and coherence while allowing cultural

evolution

emphasized kinship systems and marriages

as a form of communication highlighting

their role in diminishing conflicts

he also looked at how myths revealed a

common underlying structure despite

their heterogeneity functioning as

narratives that resolved contradictions

within a culture for example the various

versions of the Arab Smith addressed the

conflict between the idea of humans

emerging from Earth and the concept of

birth from other humans

socio's contribution to structuralism

includes the concept of the linguistic

sign according to secure words are signs

consisting of a signifier or the sound

itself and a signified or the idea or

the concept behind it so for example the

signifier 3 or ARP or shajara refer to

the idea or the concept of a tree the

signified the two combined signifier and

signified compose the sign itself the

linguistic sign

Robert

further explored the study of signs or

semiotics in literature and culture he

observed that various cultural elements

such as films Commodities events images

derive meaning through their association

with specific signs through

symbiological analysis Bart examined the

ways in which signs function to create

meaning in different contexts

on another front

threatened tadarov's work connecting

French

structuralism with Russian formalism

focuses on narrative analysis as a

common organizing element among diverse

examples his studies highlighted

narrative structures such as the

presence of the missing Center in Henry

James's Tales

in the mid 1960s structuralism became

the dominant intellectual School in

France notable figures such as Michelle

Foucault Jacques laca Julia christiva

and we altuser contributed to its

influence Foucault for instance explored

the role of language and conceptual

Frameworks and the formations of

discourses

for cause work emphasized the changes in

knowledge and language throughout

history he introduced the concept of

discursive formation formations

discourses

which are coherent sets of assumptions

and language

practices that apply to specific domains

of knowledge or Express the beliefs of

specific people these formations

shape our understanding and construction

of the world

Focus study encompasses the history of

sexuality and evolution of regimes of

social discipline he highlighted how

language mediated knowledge and

perception showcasing the influence of

linguistic practices on our

understanding and experience of reality

I will now provide a brief structural

reading of Shakespeare's play kinglier

and Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby

as a practical application of the theory

in looking at William Shakespeare's play

King Lear we can read the play as a

collections of signs that draw upon

codes of meaning specific to the work

itself or rooted in the cultural context

of the era the events and actions Within

the play hold significance within both

the play structure and the societal

codes of the time

for example the opening scene of King

Lear introduces several significant

elements we witness a king dividing his

kingdom and bestowing it upon his

daughters the daughters in return for

this piece of Kingdom profess their love

however one daughter refuses to play

along leading to her management this

Sparks a chain of events including the

objection of a loyal Court here that we

see in this scene where Kent calls

onlyer to be aware of what might look

like being mad at the bow is

fall rather than a fork invade the

region of my heart

Canton manually when Leah is bad

he shall have dread to speak when part

of flattery balls

plainness honest but Majesty forced to

Folly

Reserve thy State and in my best

consideration check thy hideous rashness

yet he reminds Lear to watch out for

when his Majesty's tubes to Foley and to

check his hideous rashness which is Then

followed by the king's offer to the

rejected daughters to the rejected

daughter to her suitors concluding with

the revelation of their sister's plot

against their father

to comprehend the significance of the

opening scene and other events it's

crucial to consider the cultural context

of England in 1606. at that time England

was a monarchy and the King's principal

support stemmed from the aristocracy who

held immense wealth and land ownership

consequently the act of dividing and

giving away land would have been

perceived as an act of Madness

questioning the king's judgmental

judgment and transfer trustworthiness

additionally in a Christian Society

where personal virtue was highly valued

the daughter's Avid pursuit of land

would have reflected negatively upon

them contrasting them with the virtue of

renunciation

as we examine the play further we

encounter characters and narrative

structures that hold deeper symbolism

the actions and statements of characters

like gunril Reagan and Edmund provide

insights into their virtue or lack of

we see here for example Edmund plotting

against his legitimate legitimate

brother Edgar

well then

legitimate Edgar

I must have your land

Our Father's Love is to the bastard

Edmund as to the legitimate

fine word

legitimate

well my legitimate this letter speed in

my invention Thrive Edmund the base

shall top the legitimate aggro I Prosper

now Gods stand up for bastards

the letter he's referring to is of

course his own invention used to plot

against his brother in contrast Edgar

emerges as a paragon of virtue as we see

in act 5 when he disguises himself as

Poor Tom to help his father

moreover The Narrative structure of King

Lear follows a traditional pattern of

Life Death and rebirth progressing from

power to loss of power and eventual

restoration this structure held

significant meaning for the audiences of

that time

and Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby the

novel is replete with signs that serve

also as powerful symbols from cars and

clothing to modes of speech these signs

capture the essence of the story

one particular sign stands out the old

forgotten billboard advertising Dr

eckelberg's Optometry business

this is part of the explanation of the

billboard and I'm reading from the quote

shown on the screen now

above the Greenland you perceive the

eyes of Dr eckelberg a pair of enormous

spectacles

set there to flatten his practice then

sank down himself or forgotten them and

moved away

the billboard evokes an older culture of

moral oversight that is mentioned at the

outset of the novel but soon forgotten

it signifies the abandonment of the once

dominant Protestant moral government by

the wealthy Elite who now dominate the

America of the 1920s

as we delve into the world of The Great

Gatsby we encounter Tom and Daisy

Buchanan representatives of the old

money hyper wealthy class they shattered

Jay Gatsby's dreams of social Ascension

and epitomize a lack of what Nicole's

the fundamental distances

they betray one another casually and

harm others without remorse they their

pursuit of pleasure and privilege is

Paramount while living in a trail of

Broken Dreams and lives in their wake it

is through these characters that

Fitzgerald explores the moral decline of

the era

Fitzgerald presents a stark contrast

between Tom and Daisy Buchanan's old

money world and Jay Gatsby's new money

run the old money Society dominated by

English and Scottish descendants upheld

propriety and clung to the state

nobility of their ethnic background

names like Buchanan and Sloan served as

markers of their exclusive social group

in contrast Gatsby represents the newly

rich like Dan Cody who acquired wealth

in the post-civil war economy Gatsby's

parties are a Melting Pot of ethnic and

professional diversity challenging the

traditional Norms of the old money Elite

as we explore The Narrative of The Great

Gatsby the question arises is it a

Redemption story

at the beginning Nick explores endorses

a moral value system he calls the

fundamental decencies

he sees Gatsby as possessing these

qualities despite his involvement in

criminal activities which presented

everything that Nick scorned

in this world where characters like Tom

and Daisy embody moral Decay Gatsby's

narrative tests the boundaries of

decency

Tome engages in adultery and

orchestrates the death of a man involved

with Daisy while Daisy pursues his Hair

Affair pursues Hair Affair based on

material wealth

amidst this scarcity of decency next

stands out as a contrasting figure

the structure of The Great Gatsby

features paired scenes that shed light

on the characters and themes two Hotel

scenes one depicting Tom's affair with

Myrtle and the other this differs with

katsi with Gatsby expose the hypocrisy

immorality and brutality with Tom and

Daisy's World in contrast the scenes

between Nick and Gatsby delve into the

novel's teams more positively Gatsby's

past is shrouded and lies initially but

as truth unfolds he comes across as a

figure of complexity and Allure the

narratives beginning and ending

emphasize Nick's embodiment of these

fundamental distances and the Rarity of

such virtues in this world of moral

ambiguity which reminds us of the

distances we saw previously in Cordelia

and Shakespeare's play

in conclusion structure them with its

focus on the implied order linguistic

sign

and discourse analysis

has revolutionized our understanding of

language culture and literature

through the works of influential figures

like sassur Levy Strauss Bart and

Foucault structuralism has paved the way

for Critical examination of the

underlying structures that shape diverse

cultural phenomena

its impact can be seen in our analysis

of these two Works King Lear and The

Great Gatsby in kinglier structuralism

allowed us to understand the play as a

collection of signs drawing upon codes

of meaning specific to the work itself

and the societal context of the 1606

England

through this lens significant events and

character symbolism take on heightened

importance shedding light on the

implication of power virtue and societal

norms similarly in The Great Gatsby

structuralism unveils the power of signs

and symbols throughout the novel The

examination of cultural codes embedded

in objects clothing and speech provides

a deeper understanding of the moral

Decline and social class distinctions

present in 1920s America