Structuralism Theory

Thinking activity on Structuralism theory as above this link
Applying on Tv serial, movie and any other show.
What is Structuralism ?

    A way of thinking about the world predominantly concerned with the perceptions and description of structures.
              In short we can say that to find out root behind anything if one is studying myths, these myths,too, are part of a larger structure. Structuralist believe that all human activity is constructed, not natural or essential.
Structuralism began in France 1950.
            Levi- Strauss, Roland Barthes, Ferdinand de Saussure, Roman Jakobson and Terence Hawkes these critic gave their contribution in theory of the Structuralism.
Saussurean Theory concepts :

SIGN - Signifier/ Signified
For example - The linguistic SIGN it is only sound image and if that Sign images accept in language after it becomes Signifier. Saussure says the sound image is the SIGNIFIER and the concept the SIGNIFIED. Saussure theory concept Langue /Parole:
Langue - Collective language system
Parole -  Individual use of that system

     Synchronic/ Diachronic
Synchronic - Contemporary state
Diachronic-  Historical dimension

    The best work in structuralist poetics has been done in the field of narrative. A literary critic applying a structuralist literary theory might say that authors of West side story did not write really anything new, because their work has the same structure as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Even we are living in twenty first century therefore author narrative style match with Shakespeare's style.
As like revenge story, love story, struggle story etc.

          I watched Gadar bollywood movie, this is love story. Both character love each other but heroin's father didn't accept their love so it is similar concept of the other movie.

Gerard Genette

       Gerard Genette is a French literary theorist, associated in particular with the structuralist movement and such figures as Roland Barthes and Claude Levi-Strauss, from whom he adapted the concept of bricolage. Here I apply his five concept which he used in Narrative Discourse : An Essay in Method.

1) Order:-
Story arrangements like simple a murder occurrs event-1 then the circumstances of the murder are revealed to a detective event -2 and finally the murderer is caught event-3.
Generally CID tv show following these type of chronological.

        Sometime it is different like first event is like discovery then flashback and resolution.

2) Frequency :-
The separation between an event and its narration allows several possibilities.

•  An event can occur once and be narrated once. For example Dangal movie first scene When Geeta fogat's father want to win Gold-medal but he was failed.

• An event can occur more times but it is narrated once time (iterative). For example All the best movie. In this movie hero working on singing show but one scene it is related to his work singing show.

• An event can occur once and be narrated n times (repetitive). For example serial Tarak Mehta ka Oolta Chashmah. In this serial once time event happen but narrated more one time.

•     An event can occur n times and be narrated  times (multiple). For example Raid movie, in this movie most of scene of the raid. Hero find out Corrupt people.

3) Duration :-

       These are the two main elements of Duration.

First is ten years passed but a short narrative time it mean they narrated in few seconds.

For example TV serial Ye Rishta kya kahelata hai. In this serial more than five time narrated lip few year.

Second is relatively short discourse time but it is describe such long time. For example Alchemist novel by Paulo Coelho. This novel's time line only 24 hours but its description such long.

4) Voice :- 

     Voice is concerned with who narrates, and from where. This can be split four ways.

1) Intra-diegetic :- inside the text 

2) Extra-diegetic:- outside the text

3) Hetero-diegetic:- The narrator is not a character in the story. For example Samay in Mahabharat.

4) Homo- diegetic :- The narrator is a character in the story. For example Dangal Movie. One character narrated story and he was also character of the movie.

5) Mood :-

Genette said narrative mood is dependent on the distance and perspective of the narrator, and like music, narrative mood has predominant patterns. It is related to voice.

     Thus, Genette concept of structuralism is different from other and his concept is most of including  all narrative techniques.