Lecture on Structuralism and Vladimir Propp

Introduction to Structuralism

• Key Thesis: Identity of things is defined by their place in a structure.
• Focus of Lecture: Vladimir Propp’s analysis of Russian fairy tales as an example of structuralism.

Vladimir Propp's Analysis

• Approach: Analyzing the overarching structure of fairy tales rather than individual meanings.
• Objective: Dissect fairy tales into components (similar to grammatical analysis) to understand underlying structures.

Assumptions in Propp's Work

• Fairy tales have a determinate structure.
• Beneath surface differences, there are consistent structural elements.

Example of Structural Analysis

• Scenes from Fairy Tales: Different surface interactions but identical roles (Hero and Donor).
• Story Events: Reception of a magical object and guidance to a necessary location.

Propp's Structural Elements

• Character Types: Exactly seven types, with three key roles:
  • Hero
  • Princess
  • Villain
• Role of Characters:
  • Hero: Defined by struggle against the villain and aim to rescue the princess.
  • Villain and Princess roles also rely on structural relationships rather than intrinsic qualities.

Structuralism in Narrative Functions

• Function Examples:
  • Interdiction: Warning given to the hero about not doing something, e.g., don't stray from the path.
  • Violation: The hero violates the interdiction, e.g., strays from the path.
• Rules of Combination:
  • Violation requires prior interdiction.
  • Interdiction necessitates violation (to maintain interest in the narrative).

General Structure of Fairy Tales

• Propp identifies 31 narrative functions with specific rules for combination and sequence.
• Structural analysis helps understand the genre of fairy tales, akin to linguistic sentence structure.

Application of Structuralist Analysis

• Rigid Genres: Works well with rigidly structured genres like James Bond films.
• Challenges: More difficult to apply to literary novels or avant-garde films.

Conclusion

• Impact of Structuralism: Influential in humanities, emphasizing the roles things play in larger structures.
• Versatility: Structural insights applicable across numerous fields.