structuralism

Structuralism as literary movement or

What is structuralism?

             The movement structuralism was inaugurated in the 1950, by the cultural anthropologist Claude Levi Strauss. It is basically a French movement; however the father of structuralism is Ferdinand-de-Saussure. Because the movement finds its origin in the early twentieth century work,

                           “A course in general linguistic’’- 1916

                       This book is written by Saussure and he gives importance of science study of language rather than a historical one, According to critic Pramod k Nayar.

                            ‘’Structuralism is a form of criticism which sought to understand a work of art in the context of structures whish have genre, culture and language’’    

   Before critic Saussure the importance was given to the historical study of language. The major focuses was on the origin and development of language, the ‘’diachronic mode’’ of study. This indicates a study of language across time.

 However for the first time, Saussure turned away from the diachronic mode of a study of language. He focused upon the pattern and function of language in today’s world and its use. According to Saussure we have to study language according to changing time, in short

‘’structuralism is an attempt to see everything in terms of Saussuran linguistics’’- Pramod Nayar

1)   Signifier and Signified

    According to Saussure the sign is constituted by the signifier and signified.

“Signifier’’ is the word or the alphabets which are arranged in a particular order.

 While the signified is the concept that the signifier stands for.

EXAMPLE; Rose it is made up for four alphabets and it creates specific image of rose not a cap or cat.

2)   Three fundamental assumption

   Saussure and linguistics have three fundamental assumptions

Ø Arbitrariness

Ø Relational

Ø Systematic

Saussure believes that the meanings we attribute to word are entirely arbitrary. The meaning is presented through ‘’usage’’ and ‘’convention’’ only.

     Words are defined in relationship of combination and contrast with one another. No word has its meaning isolated.

EXAMPLE; ‘’cat’’ means cat only, neither ‘’dog’’ nor ‘’rose’’.

“Language constitutes our world and our very existence’’- Saussure

         Language is a system itself. It is not personal important but his spoken words are important. It is necessary to analyze how a word produces particular meaning. For that we need to understand the set of structures in language because it helps us to speak and to make sense, Saussure calls this study as ‘’semiology’’. Semiology indicates study of signs and sign system of language.

3)   Langue and Parole

     According to Saussure there is distinction within language. It is necessary to understand langue and parole as a part of structuralism and structuralist criticism.

        The system of structure of language and some conventions which governs speech is called ‘’ langue’’.

                While the actual utterance in the social context is parole.

 To understand parole one should be aware of the system or langue. This relationship between parole and langue was at the root of study in Saussure and linguistic.

4)   Characteristics of structuralism

                Structuralism is informed and characterized by the following method.

A)  Literature is an outcome of culture and it is modeled on the structure of language. In short language constructs the basic nature of our perception or reality.

B)   Structuralism allows the structurlists to investigate the manner in which literary texts are structured. They can analyze language its grammar

C)   Literature is a system itself in a particular culture. It is such system which is based upon the linguistic model.

D)  Structuralism seeks the process of meaning production. It even analyses how the text constructs meaning.

E)   Structuralism allows studying texts at three different levels.

Ø The importance of book in isolation.

Ø Study of one text in relation to other text.

Ø Study of genetic difference like difference of novel and poem.

5)   Influence of structuralism

              Structuralism influenced most of disciplines and field whether it is literature, psychology, cultural study, Marxism there is ultimate influence of structuralism.

EXAMPLE

                         Claude-Levi-Strauss himself adopted the structuralist methodology to analyze myths.

                        Jacques lacan adopted structuralist methodology to analyze psychology.

                        Louis Althusser adopted structuralist methodology to analyze Marxism.

                   

                        Ronald Barthes adopted structuralist methodology for writing on the fashion system.

·      Major writers and schools of structuralism.

                Many movements and schools were pioneered due to structuralism.

EXAMPLE; Russian formalism, the Prague school and structural narratology.

                The major writers who supported the structuralist analysis include,

Ø Julia Kristina.

Ø Gerard Gannet.

Ø Ronald Barth.