STRUCTURALISM & SEMIOTICS
Structuralism was a method for analysing the deep structuring logic of cultural products and practices. Everything from tribal kinship structures (L´evi-Strauss 1977) to clothing fashions and advertising (Barthes 1972; 1983) could, for the structuralists, be subjected to structural analysis.
Films do not provide only the intrinsic meanings of its structure appearances but also the deeper meaning or hidden relation of it. If we will study the semiotics of the cinema or a language of cinema that was inspired by structuralism, we can determine those films that used semiotics and can provide structural analysis.
Ferdinand de Saussure is the one who provided much influence for structuralism theory. But there were four key influences in building on the foundational study of him. These are Claude Levi Strauss, Roland Barthes, Jacques Lacan, and Luis Althusser.
Films do not provide only the intrinsic meanings of its structure appearances but also the deeper meaning or hidden relation of it. If we will study the semiotics of the cinema or a language of cinema that was inspired by structuralism, we can determine those films that used semiotics and can provide structural analysis.
Ferdinand de Saussure is the one who provided much influence for structuralism theory. But there were four key influences in building on the foundational study of him. These are Claude Levi Strauss, Roland Barthes, Jacques Lacan, and Luis Althusser.
The two most important implications of this theory are that meaning is not inside something, but is the product of a set of relationships, often negatively defined. And that we do not have direct access through language to reality itself. However we try to access reality, it is always through language or other sign systems.
One of the good examples of this theory is the textual analysis of Raymond Bellour from one of the scenes of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 film. The Birds is a prime example of a structural analysis of film. The visual structure in the film is a little dialogue during the scene which is at work.
One of the good examples of this theory is the textual analysis of Raymond Bellour from one of the scenes of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 film. The Birds is a prime example of a structural analysis of film. The visual structure in the film is a little dialogue during the scene which is at work.
Bellour’s revelation is the nature of the formation of the romantic couple in accordance with the logic of the Oedipus complex theorized by psychoanalysis. And also he argues that the scene is ordered by means of alternation such as a close shot of ‘Melanie seeing,’ and a distant shot of ‘what Melanie sees.’
The great contribution of structuralism theory is to search and discover the meanings and structuring logic of a film which might be hidden or lay beneath the surface. It also
Uncover symbolic meanings that might be historically significant enough to establish the secret or hidden in a film. The structuralist approach to film set the trend for the next long years or more in film theory.
The great contribution of structuralism theory is to search and discover the meanings and structuring logic of a film which might be hidden or lay beneath the surface. It also
Uncover symbolic meanings that might be historically significant enough to establish the secret or hidden in a film. The structuralist approach to film set the trend for the next long years or more in film theory.