Levi Strauss came up with the idea of binary opposites. He believed that we understand words not solely based upon their meaning, but of our understanding of the opposites they reflect.
Our understanding of the word 'Hero' depends on our understanding of the word 'villain'.
Within the media world binary opposites are used on a frequent basis. They are usually the basis of our understanding of a story as it is a conventional narrative and enables an equilibrium. Binary
opposites are used in films to help plots, they are also used in music videos
as part of a narrative to reinforce song lyrics.Levi
Strauss’ theory links heavily with our ideological values of how we feel we
should ‘perceive’ the world.
Why use binary opposites?
- This
theory enables us to have an understanding of a narrative before it has even
begun.
- Representations re-present them self to an audience to assure understanding, meaning and - - recognition from a text is understood.
- Having opposites within a text enables climax and interest
- Representations re-present them self to an audience to assure understanding, meaning and - - recognition from a text is understood.
- Having opposites within a text enables climax and interest
However more recently this can be challenged for example in Lady Gaga's music video Judas, or films that have a narrative with no clear protagonist.
Other music video examples are...
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