Claude Levi-Strauss & his

TheoryWhat is it and what films is it used in?

By Umut T

What is his Theory?Levi-Strauss states that we see the world, people and places by forming Binary Oppositions His theory states that all narratives are arranged around the conflict between the opposites

For Example;

Good Vs Evil

Men Vs Women

Light Vs Dark

Technology Vs Nature War Vs Peace

Age Vs Youth

Strong Vs Weak

Democracy Vs Dictatorship

Levi-Strauss’ Theory in Dawn Of

The Planet Of The ApesWhat is Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes?

Ten years after a pandemic disease, Apes have grown and learned to be more

civilised within themselves. The Apes and humans have been to war for

around 5 years and the rest of the years they have lived separately. The both

sides have known that the other side has been extinct for many years,

however when a group of humans walk into two Apes in the forest, war

between the two sides begin.

How is it relevant to the Theory?

In this movie for every Ape, and their characteristic, has a Human opposite of

them. This is only applied for the main characters but here are a few

examples…

The Two Good Main Characters

CaesarMalcolm

Malcolm is a good character from the Human

side. He believes and wants the humans to be

together and to live in peace; he wants to give

the Apes a chance. All of this is to protect his

family and the human race because the Humans

need the Apes for survival; the Apes live near a

dam where the Humans can get energy from.

x Is not the leader of the humans

Human (opposite to an Ape)

Wants Humans to be in peace with

the Apes

Wants to protect his family

Wants to give Apes a chance

Need the Apes for survival

Caesar is a good character from the Apes side. He

is the leader of the whole population of the Apes.

Caesar has turned the land of Apes into a civilized

home with laws and rules that the Apes must

abide by. He wants to Humans and the Apes to be

at peace together (in a way) to protect his family

and the Apes who follow him.

Is the leader of the Apes

Ape (opposite to a Human)

Wants Apes to be in peace with the

Humans

Wants to protect his family

Wants to give humans a chance

x Doesn’t need the humans to survive

The Two Bad Main CharactersKobaDreyfus

Dreyfus is on the Human side. He does not

believe and want the Humans and Apes to be at

peace together, rather he wants all the Apes

dead. He thinks that Humans are better and

more superior than Apes. He wants the Apes

gone so the Humans can go use the dam near

the Apes’ home to get energy and contact the

rest of the world for help.

Doesn’t want peace between the Apes

and Humans

Believes that all Apes are pathetic and

should die

Human (opposite to an Ape)

Leads the Humans

Wants the best for the Human race

Koba was used as a lab rat by humans when he

was a young Ape. He has scars and body parts

that are damaged as a conscience of being

tested on. Because of this, he has grown hatred

on the humans and he wants them ALL dead

and captured like how he was.

Doesn’t want peace between the

Humans and Apes

Believes that all Humans are pathetic

and should die

Ape (opposite to Human

x Does not lead the Apes

x Wants the best for himself

The Two Young Main CharactersBlue EyesAlexander

Alexander is the son of Malcolm. He is a innocent

boy who believes in his dads ways, he wants the

humans to be in peace with the Apes just like his

dad. He doesn’t fight or believe in violence rather

he wants draw and do art.

Son of Malcolm

Wants peace with Apes

Human (opposite to an Ape)

Doesn’t believe in violence

Blue Eyes is the son of Caesar. Unfortunately

he doesn’t believe in his fathers ways, rather

he has been taught to hate Humans by Koba

as he was growing up. He isn’t afraid to go to

war and he spends his time hunting and killing

animals.

Son of Caesar

Doesn’t want peace with Humans

Ape (opposite to a Human)

Believes in violence