Structuralism is a theory that focuses on signs and organization in human culture, primarily used in linguistic and literary studies. It emphasizes breaking down information into small units for study and categorization. The movement gained prominence in France with figures such as Levi-Strauss and Barthes. Structural linguistics and literary criticism are two areas where it has been applied. Critics argue it is too narrow and sterile, leading to the development of post-structuralism.
Structuralism is a broadly based rational theory that focuses on signs and organization in various aspects of human culture. While this approach can be applied to various areas of study ranging from anthropology to psychology, its primary use has occurred in linguistic and literary studies. Structuralists focus on breaking down information into small items for study. They are also interested in the categorization and classification of these units of information.
The structuralism movement took hold in the early and mid-20th century and first gained prominence in France with notable figures such as Claude Levi-Strauss, Roland Barthes and Jaques Derrida. Scholars of this era became interested in how the world was defined by structures that could be classified and studied. Anthropologists, for example, have studied developed systems such as religious rituals and have also researched epistemes, or the shared methods that cultures use to acquire knowledge. Psychologists, on the other hand, have determined how common experiences, symbols, and worldviews have shaped the human mind, while political researchers have considered the rules of governments. In a sense, structuralism and its emphasis on the collective and the categorical became a response to existentialism and its reliance on unique and individual experiences.
Linguistic studies has become the field where structuralism has probably gained the upper hand. Individuals such as Ferdinand de Saussure applied the theory to the construction of language through structural linguistics. This approach focused on determining the common components of language systems. Particular attention has been given to the relationship between the sounds and meanings of words — or the signifier and signified, respectively. In modern linguistics, structural scholars study the smallest individual segments of words that produce sound or meaning, otherwise known as phonemes and morphemes.
Similar approaches have also found a stronghold in structuralist literary criticism. Essentially, literary scholars apply structural methods to works of fiction and their only source of study is the works themselves. Such an approach might include looking for common character types, settings, or story points across various novels, especially novels in the categorical genre. The structural critic can also look for patterns and associations within a single text. Water, for example, can play a prominent role at various points of progression within a novel. In essence, confrontation and cohesion are emphasized in structural criticism.
The foundation of structuralism has been both praised and criticized. Proponents believe that philosophy allows for an objective and reliable method of research and study of various cultural principles and components. Critics, however, argue that structuralist study is too narrow and sterile. It does not consider factors such as historical influences or human emotions and attempts to classify complex issues into convenient categories. In response, some opponents developed an opposing approach known as post-structuralism, which de-emphasized structure, order, and narrow interpretations.
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