Applying Theory of Levi-Strauss

Levi-Strauss said that story elements which give meaning usually appear in pairs. A story will typically be organised into binary opposites.



'Pale Rider' (Eastwood 1985)


Atmosphere/Place:
calm/fierce
peaceful/disruptive
noisy/quiet
black/white


Character:
good/evil
lonely/group
survival/death
alive/dead


dark/light
slow pace/fast pace


'Die Hard' (John McTiernan, 1988)


Atmosphere/Place:
safe/dangerous
new york/los angeles
love/hate


Character:
Happy/Sad
victims/villains
prepared/not prepared
together/apart
good/evil


life/death
work life/home life