Post-Structuralism: What is it? Post-Structuralism gives a reader or a viewer, a critical eye when understanding the meaning of text.
What Would a Post-Structuralist Say? A Post-Structuralist would say, for a reader or viewer to understand a text of a culture, you must look at what is beyond the text, not simply the structure of a text. Post-Structuralists do this because they believe it is necessary to analyze the text this way, because they feel that their culture, their environment, experiences, and opinions build the meaning of the text.
How is this different from formalists? Formalists believe that the writer of a text creates meaning through the structure of the text. Using the scheme of Post- Structuralism, you are able to further understand the implicit and explicit values and beliefs about power, culture, and relationships that are present in texts.
Here is an example: In a traditional fairy tale, you will often see the following types of characters and/or events: - A woman who is in distress and in dire need of rescue - A strong male character who defeats a beast or villain in order to rescue a female character - There is a happy ending, which usually is a wedding between two characters
How would you interpret this? A reader, aside from interpreting the text based on their own culture and experience, can also further interpret the text by making more assertions about power and relationships. Depending on the culture, such assertions can be that - Women are nothing more than frail beings, who needs help from a man when they are in trouble - It is the responsibility of the man to come to aid of a woman who is in trouble - Marriage is the prime goal for women
A post-structuralist would say that a person of a particular culture with particular experiences will read the story and have particular assumptions or expectations, such as expecting to encounter a man when a story involves a women who needs help, because this always happens in stories such as these. Furthermore, post-structuralists would understand why particular stories are written, as well as the time period in which certain stories and texts are made, and why certain stories and texts are made.
So, as you can see, post-structuralists look at the bigger picture, and analyze not only the text, the reader, and who writes the book, but also the environment that revolves around the story or text.
Post Structuralism: Guiding Questions Purpose - What is this text about? - What does the author or write of the text would like you to know or think? - What does the author or writer want you to do? - Who would read or view this text? - Does this text make an assumption about the gender roles of its readers? Is it geared towards male or female readers? - What assumptions might the author be implying about the beliefs and values of the readers? - Who is the intended audience? Who is ignored?
Post Structuralism: Guiding Questions Examples: - This particular text is about a family who yearns for a wealthy lifestyle so much that it disturbs them. - The author wants the reader to sympathy or compassion for the children involved, but having a feeling of repulsiveness towards the parents for their acts. - Assumption implied by the text: Readers will understand the role of women in society during a particulat time period
Post Structuralism: Guiding Questions Depiction - Who are depicted in the story or text? Are they adults, teens, and/or children? - Which characters are bright, strong, beautiful/handsome, successful, or assertive? - Which characters are foolish, weak, unattractive, unsuccessful, or humble? - How are the characters represented? (How are women described? How are men described? How are minority groups presented?) - If a story is told from the viewpoint of only one gender, how fair and is the representation of characters belonging to the other gender
Post Structuralism: Guiding Questions - With which cultures found in the text do you identify with, and to what degree does the text serve as a reflection of your own cultural values? - What happens when the characters in the text do not act or show behaviour that is not considered as being a cultural norm or stereotype in society?
Post Structuralism: Guiding Questions Power - Does the text offer fairness? - Are the people or groups of people, shown in a positive light? Are there people or groups who are in a positive light? - Whose interests does the text cater to? Economic? Political? Social? - Who gains from reading the text or story? - What incidents and which characters imply interests or values that considered ideological?
Post Structuralism: Guiding Questions - Which character in the text has the power? How does this power change or shift as the text moves forward - How and to what degree are the lives of specific characters in the text are limited - What historical and social circumstances in the text might offer help in understanding - How do characters present their own power in the story? Are there any consequences after their power has been exerted?
Post Structuralism: Guiding Questions Gaps - Are there characters in the story or text who are seen but whose voice is not heard? - Are there certain people whom this text is not intended for? Who would they be? - From whose viewpoint is the story told from? - How might other characters tell the story differently? How so?
Answering Questions - All of you are expected to choose three questions from the “Guiding Questions” section of this slideshow. You are to read the story “Chicken Hips” and analyze the story by answering your selected questions, on your own blog. - Afterwards, choose a fellow student and comment on three of their answers. Next, students are to comment on the comments made on their answers.