Structuralism

 Part 1: Media Factsheet reading

Use our brilliant Media Factsheet archive to find Factsheet #90 Applying Structuralism and Post-Structuralism. Read the Factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What is the definition of structuralism provided by the Factsheet? 

2) What are binary oppositions and why are they important? placing two ideas or groups of people in opposing categories as a way to understand their relationship to each other.  

3) How do genre and auteur theory link to structuralism?  films are shaped broader cultural and industrial forces.  and
4) Look at page 4 of the factsheet. What is post-structuralism? Post structuralism is interested in how external factors can influence meanings- focus shifts from text to reader.

5) What is your own opinion on this theory? Do you agree that we use established structures to understand the media (such as narrative and genre) or is the power now with audiences in a digital, post-structuralist media landscape? I agree with the theory as it easy for people to know what type of film they like based on their grouping of films. 

Part 2: The Mitchells vs The Machines analysis

Watch the trailer for The Mitchells vs The Machines: 

Write an analysis of the trailer from both a structuralist and post-structuralist perspective. 

The following may help you:

Structuralist: what established narratives, genres or conventions can be found in the trailer? 

Post-structuralist: how does the trailer reject traditional structures and instead offer something new (e.g. incorporating elements of YouTube meme culture, audiences as producers of meaning or subverting expectations of narrative or character). 

From a structuralist perspective, the trailer for The Mitchells vs. The Machines presents a predictable narrative structure by combining and following established cinematic formulas. The story beats provide audiences with a recognizable framework, making the absurd plot feel grounded and accessible. The Mitchells are clearly defined, stock characters within the dysfunctional family unit. With the tech-averse, nature-loving father and the quirky, artistic teenage daughter. However from a post-structuralist perspective, the trailer can be analysed for how it deconstructs and challenges the very narrative structures it uses. It's mainly about how it tells them, and how it invites the audience to become active participants in creating meaning. The animation style itself is a central feature of the post-structuralist approach. This reflects the main character Katie's creative, chaotic perspective, suggesting that meaning isn't handed down from a singular, "perfect" authorial source but is instead a messy, collaborative, and ongoing process that sums up the family.