Narrative Theory: Claude Levi Strauss

Strauss offers the idea of Binary opposition and the idea that things/objects/qualities that are directly parallel and opposite help to understand and fuel each other. This idea can be applied to films and the characters within them. For example, the protagonist could be incredibly kind and thoughtful, directly contrasting the antagonist who could be heartless and horrible, these two character types emphasise each other and the qualities they have because they are so different in comparison that the audience judge one by the others actions. My film doesn't directly focus on the idea of this binary opposition effect but it does touch on it in the idea that the main female is very different to the antagonist or femme fatale character that appears in the way that they dress and the way they act. For example, my main female protagonist isn't hugely popular or feminine, where as the antagonist is very feminine and girly and stereotypically popular. Also, their character types in themselves are binary opposites which is stereotypical as protagonists and antagonists always directly contrast with each other and are usually strong opposites, therefore setting up a narrative about alternating views or ways of life.