Structuralism started with Russian formalism in the 1920's. Russian formalism states that we should ignore that a piece of text has been written by someone and that all that matters is the text that is in front of us when reading. This is because the text has unified structures and meanings that go beyond what the text actually says.
These structures and meanings are evident within the writers work and the reader's response. Structuralism takes this further by saying that these structures and meanings transcend the reader and writer across different writers, works and even different culture. These structures are outside of the writer's intentions and the reader's inclinations, shaping and determining all the acts of creation and reading.
The aim of structuralism is to analyse language as a whole rather that in specific instances. Take the idea that there are seven different plots for which a story can be categorised into. These are the quest, the voyage and return, rebirth, comedy, tragedy, overcoming the monster, rags to riches. Regardless of the characters, the setting or even some events within the story one of these plots will apply to a story and it is this categorisation which is shown in structuralism, encompassing many sotries rather than one individual story.
Structuralism is about finding out how languages and texts have universal structures.
Andrew Fitton. (N0207317)
Thank you Andrew. This is a pretty accurate description of the ideas behind structuralism. In terms of the other stuff we have done on the course it seems to run against the grain, although I suppose it would given that we have looked at some of the ‘post-structuralists’. However, the idea of transversal structures that are present irrespective of cultural identity is fascinating, and one that seems relevant again and again as you say. One other aspect of structuralism that I think is interesting is in terms of its scale. It is applicable in both a macro and a micro sense from anthropological social systems, to individual texts etc. Do you think that structuralism might be in for a revival, as it does seem to have great explanatory power.
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