Levi Strauss and Vladimir Propp

1. By Conor Horne

2. Strauss was born on the 28th November 1908.
He was an anthropologist and ethnologist. He
devised structural anthropology, which is the
idea that people think in opposites like high or
low, or big and small.

3. This theory of structural anthropology can be
applied to the media in the form of narrative
themes. These themes would be the narrative
conflict for the film. Examples of these binary
oppositions would include: Good vs Evil, Smart
vs Stupid or Boy vs Girl.

4. Jedi vs Sith
Freddy vs Jason
Alien vs Predator
Michael Myers vs Lori Strode
Batman vs The Joker

5. Vladimir Propp was a Russian critic and literary
theorist. He analysed over 100 Russian fairy
tales in the 1920s and identified different
character roles which were present in many, if
not all of them. These roles help to identify the
actions into clearly defined roles and functions.

6. The hero (seeks something, e.g. The princess)
The villain (opposes the hero)
The donor (helps the hero by providing some kind of item)
The dispatcher (sends the hero on their quest)
The False hero (falsely assumes the role of hero)
The Helper (provides support to the hero)
The Princess (acts as an object or goal for the hero and also needs
protection from the villain)
Her Father

7. The Hero - Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
The Donor - Ben Kenobi (Star Wars)
The Helper - Han Solo (Star Wars)
The Villain - Bane (The Dark Knight Rises)
The Dispatcher - Nick Fury (Avengers Assemble)
The Princess - Gwen Stacy (The Amazing Spiderman)
Princess’ Father – King Harold (Shrek 2)