Critique Of Structuralism Theory

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Critique of Structuralism Theory

Structuralism is a framework that focuses on the notion of structure as a tool for

understanding various concepts and ideas. The theory primarily focuses on the value of form and

the process of how the form comes into existence. The sections “Structuralist chickens and

liberal humanist eggs” and the “ The Scope of Structuralism” however have some weaknesses

that one needs to explore if they are going to use the Structuralist theory in understanding things

in a wider context (Barry 40). This paper seeks to explore some of the obvious loopholes that the

theory of structuralism reveals as one looks deeper at the arguments that are advanced in the

sections, “Structuralist chickens and liberal humanist eggs” and the “The Scope of

Structuralism”.

As a conceptual framework, the school of thought perceives structure to be more vital

than its function. This is a weakness that is noticeable in the discipline of linguistics. The school

of thought that was advanced by Ferdinand de Saussure argues that it is vital to separate langue

and parole in the theoretical notions (Barry 45). The above sentiments primarily imply that it is a

viable option to separate linguistic competency and language functionality. Such an argument is

not one that is veritable since the functions of language in most times function concurrently. De

Saussure invented the notion if the sign and signified that is used to simplify the ideology of the

presence of a connection between the abstract and the material (Barry 45). Such an ideology,

however, has its inherent weaknesses and loopholes that need to be addressed if the Structuralist

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theory is going to be a comprehensive one. The reliance on the structure commonly known as the

morphology intentionally overlooks the importance of functionality. Such an oversight in

linguistics is not one that is conclusive because the use of grammar does not consider the

principles of structuralism especially given that the Structuralist theory concentrates more on

how the language functions despite the absence of structure. The need for functionality is

augmented in the sociolinguistic approach to the study of language that focuses on the versatility

of language and its context.

In addition, it is hard to not notice that as one continues to read the section is the fact that

aside from being reductive, the Structuralist theory is comparatively deterministic. The theory

concentrates on singular forms of meaning as in the example that has been listed about the

similarities about the words shed, hut and mansion (Barry 43). They are all dependent on the

large aspect of life as opposed to the other structural meaning that is stipulated in the analysis.

The article hence is one that contradicts itself since the article at some point states that

structuralism is one that is meant to explore the structure and not the functionality that a

particular word has to the development of the function.

Furthermore, the section builds up to the fact that the ideologies and the notions

advanced, in Structuralist theory, are too subjective. When one reads the arguments about the

poem Alba and its impact to the people, one is bound to realize that the poem lacks reliability

since it is one that is entirely different in introspection of the members of a particular society

(Barry 41). The poem for instance expects and requires the members to interpret the poem

according to their knowledge of the cultural structure that the poem was set. The argument in

Structuralist theory is that the poem lacks the vigor and the ability to be understood without

relating it to a bigger entity (Barry 41). The Structuralist theory instead of revealing the argument

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that has been advanced by the concerned parties is the fact that it takes people far and far away

from the text and into more substantial and comparatively abstract questions about genre,

history, and philosophy.

There is also the drawback of the Structuralist theory in that there is an obvious focus on

the internal behavior that cannot be adequately measured. The fact that it was not possible to

measure the overt behavior makes one realize that the Structuralist theory was full of errors. It

also needed adequate addressing if they were going to be successful in determining the most

important rules about the structure and the overall meaning of the language and other critical

activities in the society such as wrestling and boxing activities (Barry 43). It is also important

that one explores some of the issues that the Structuralist argues to have analyzed and examined

their significance in society. Consider, for instance, and there are arguments as to the importance

of sports such as wrestling and boxing. Despite having the similarity of both being violent and to

some extent barbaric games, they both are meant to show the various values that the society is

meant to pass on across to the younger generation (Barry 42). However, such a statement is one

that is meant to look at the blanket function of the games without putting into consideration the

other aspects that have led to the game cutting across the cultural barriers to become a worldwide

sport even in communities that the scientists had previously perceived as being primitive and

awkward. The Structuralist theory is hence an extremely simplistic theory that only focuses on

the surface meaning without intending to look at the inner meaning behind some of the activities

that the people do and the process that drivers of culture as in the case of language are influenced

and developed.

It is also important to note that one can argue that the Structuralist theory was one that

was derived from a populist point of view since most of the scholars supported it just because

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they did not subscribe to the functionalist theory. The article indicates how well-known Anglo-

American figures undertook to read the material that was yet to be analyzed and the impact that

such a move would have to the other scholars was one that was a bit too obvious (Barry 49).

Figures such as Jonathan Culler’s who is a well-known critic of the various ideologies about the

semiotics and the influence of the society to the development of language move about writing a

book known as Structuralist poetic was a move that was bound to influence the concerned

parties in a negative way. Negative in the sense that the people did not need to think objectively

when a person with as a high standing and who was held in high esteem by the other parties

endorsed the Structuralist theory. Other people that influenced the popularity and the increased

interest in the Structuralist theory included people such as Terrence Hawkes, Frank Kermode

who even dedicated most of his time setting up workshops and seminars to advance this agenda,

was an important instrument in influencing the popularity of the ideologies (Barry 49). One

would hence argue that the sudden acceptance of the Structuralist theory was not one that was

primarily because if the sense and the notions that the Structuralist school of thought advanced. It

was instead that was widely and warmly accepted because it was the alternate for the

functionalism theory that most of the scholars felt were a tad too complicated. To sum it up,

Structuralist school of thought gained such popularity because it was the first major and a widely

accepted school of thought that was a break away from what was akin to the nemesis known as

Functionalism theory (Barry 49). It is logical to surmise that the Structuralist theory was popular

and endorsed by most scholars because it was a break from the other school of thought not

because it reflected and supported most of their ideologies.

Another argument that does not make any sense about the Structuralist theory is the

argument that every aspect of the people’s life can be broken down into smaller chunks of the

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process to make it easier to understand. The argument that something as abstract and personal as

fashion follows a given guideline that the society has stipulated is one that is too general (Barry

48). People have continued to personalize their sense of fashion to accentuate their sense of

identity and express their feelings as people who believe in the value of personal expression.

Consider, for instance, no conventional style stipulates that people have to wear swimwear when

they are going to the beach or swimming. People wear swimwear for convenience and the

functionality of wearing something that is free and easy to navigate around in the waters. Such

an argument is justifiable because when one looks around, various types of swimwear are vital to

the development of the argument. Some people will prefer wearing body suits to the beach,

others will prefer bikinis, and others might opt for sundresses. Hence arguing that fashion is one

that is guided by the values of a society and that the people have to follow a given rule is an

argument that is erroneous. This error is derived because fashion is influenced mainly by the

functionality that a certain gear will have at a particular moment as opposed to the adherence to

the conventions that are held in the society. The argument that people follow unwritten rules is

an idea that is not accurate since arguing that people do not wear their jackets inside out because

of the society’s conventions does not make sense (Barry 48). People choose not to wear their

jackets inside out because such an arrangement would beat the functional aspect of the jacket as

in the case of using the pockets and other elements that the jackets have. One would hence

conclude that the arguments that are passed on by the scholars about some of the arbitrary

choices in the fashion world such as the illogicality of wearing military jackets to the class are

because they would not be functional. This is as opposed to not because of the social conventions

or because of the argument that every component sign will derive its meaning from a cultural

context (Barry 48).

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Structuralism is hence a school of thought that is extremely too simplistic to have an

objective perspective about essential elements of culture such as language and aspects such as

fashion. The Structuralist theory is subjective, reductive, is not measurable, and is founded on a

populist foundation which is not an adequate measure for assessing the accuracy of any theory.

For the Structuralist theory to be comprehensive and complete, it is important that one keeps in

mind the weaknesses that are outlined in the essay and analyze the aspect of the culture that they

are delving into while remembering this. Hence, the analysis of an aspect such as language and

fashion will be efficient when one combines the Structuralism and the Functionalism theory as

they help in augmenting each other’s inadequacies.

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Work Cited

Barry, Peter. ‘Structuralist chickens and liberal humanist eggs’: In Beginning Theory. 4th

ed. (2009).

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