Levi strauss’ theory of binary opposites

1. Levi Strauss’
Theory of
Binary
Opposites

2. The Theory
• The theory of binary opposites is that all
narratives have to be driven forward by a
conflict that was caused by a series of
opposing forces, e.g. a hero and a villain,
until finally a sort of balance between
them, or a resolution is achieved

3. Examples of binary opposites
• Light and dark
• Right and wrong
• Good and evil
• Sanity and insanity
• Human and alien
• Youth and age
• Strength and weakness
• Honest and deceitful
• Silence and noise
In this image from Frankenstein, there are
obvious binary opposites of light and dark and
man and woman.

4. 1. Paranormal Activity: Paranormal Activity
used binary opposites to show a clear
difference between the natural and the
supernatural. It also has the binary
opposite of night and day, when the
cameras are on in the day, and during the
night.
2. Jennifer’s Body: This film’s main binary
opposite is of good and evil, between
Jennifer and her best friend Needy.
However, there is also the binary opposite
of right and wrong, as well as strength and
weakness depending on whether Jennifer
has eaten or not.
Examples of horror films
that use binary opposites