In Claude Levi-Strauss’ article “The Structural Study of Myth’ I found one of the most interesting area, and the one that stands out the most, is how he divides myths. He has them separated into columns and rows. To me this organisation makes perfect sense. The columns are grouped into like events, characteristics, symbols etc. When reading the rows left-right you and read the story in sequence. This relates exactly to the musical elements of melody and harmony. I have a little musical background, and the combination of two passions, literature and music, has opened the door to understanding a little more about myths. With the combination of rows and columns you are given the whole myth, insides and out, with all its twists and turns. Just as in music, melody and harmony are combined to create a beautiful piece of music. When analyzing a myth these interlocking aspects enable a myth to be taken apart and put back together flawlessly, just like a puzzle.
As I start to think about the essay do next week one aspect of Structuralism seems to stand out for me. The fact that the word cat is the word cat because it is not bat, or hat or mat, that there is no connection to the word and the creature that begs me for food. I don’t know why this aspect keeps popping out in my mind. I think it could be because it is the opposite of what I believed to be the connection of meanings to their words. I always assumed there would be a specific kind of connection. The idea it is what it is for what it is not just boggles my mind. It is almost like the process of elimination was in affect. If a cat was named first, the word cat could not be assigned to a dog. Who would of thought I could be typing on a cat and petting my computer with his method.
The idea of words having no connection to other words brings up another point. If there is no connection between a word and its meaning what is the deal with words like, triangle. Tri means three and angle ``is the amount of rotation needed to bring one line or plane into coincidence with another, generally measured in radians or in degrees, minutes, and seconds″, which is read as 12 degrees, 10 minutes, and 30 seconds``. So, the word triangle and the meaning are connected. Not just connected by elimination, but by a direct link of meaning to word. This is the case of many words in the English. The original Latin of some words could stand up to a Structural interpretation, however the English cannot.
As I start to think about the essay do next week one aspect of Structuralism seems to stand out for me. The fact that the word cat is the word cat because it is not bat, or hat or mat, that there is no connection to the word and the creature that begs me for food. I don’t know why this aspect keeps popping out in my mind. I think it could be because it is the opposite of what I believed to be the connection of meanings to their words. I always assumed there would be a specific kind of connection. The idea it is what it is for what it is not just boggles my mind. It is almost like the process of elimination was in affect. If a cat was named first, the word cat could not be assigned to a dog. Who would of thought I could be typing on a cat and petting my computer with his method.
The idea of words having no connection to other words brings up another point. If there is no connection between a word and its meaning what is the deal with words like, triangle. Tri means three and angle ``is the amount of rotation needed to bring one line or plane into coincidence with another, generally measured in radians or in degrees, minutes, and seconds″, which is read as 12 degrees, 10 minutes, and 30 seconds``. So, the word triangle and the meaning are connected. Not just connected by elimination, but by a direct link of meaning to word. This is the case of many words in the English. The original Latin of some words could stand up to a Structural interpretation, however the English cannot.
angle definition from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/angle
wow, what a great example! I never thought of "triangle" in this context before!
ReplyDeleteI like the "typing on the cat and petting the computer" analogy :)
ReplyDeletethanks guys:)
ReplyDelete