Difference Between Post-Structuralism and Structuralism

Post-Structuralism vs Structuralism

The difference between Post-Structuralism and Structuralism is

simple to understand. Structuralism and Post-Structuralism are two
different literary movements. Structuralism proposes that the world
should be understood through structures. For example, let us take
language. A language should be understood as a structure because
the individual words gain their meaning due to the existence of the
structure. Structuralists emphasized the idea that truth and
reality were to be identified within the structure. Post-Structuralism,
on the other hand, criticized this foundation of structuralism.
According to Post-Structuralism, there were no realities or truths; all
such elements have to be understood as constructions. This article
attempts to highlight the differences between the two movements
through an understanding of each movement.

What is Structuralism?

Structuralism, as a theoretical perspective of understanding the

society and the world at large, began in the 1960s in France. It was
Claude Levi-Strauss who pioneered Structuralism. This can be
understood as an approach that highlights the existence of a
structure in phenomenon. Structuralists such as Saussure used
language in order to highlight the existence of a structure in different
phenomena. According to him, a language is made up of arbitrary
elements. These elements do not have any individual meaning. It is
through the system that these elements derive meaning. Through this
Structuralism brought out the concept that there were no hidden
realities, but the reality was to be identified within the premises of the
structure. Binary opposition was one of the theories of Structuralism.
This highlighted that certain concepts are in opposition such as male
and female. However, the ideas of structuralism surpass the linguistic
framework and were applied in other fields as well. For example, the
influence of Structuralism was to be seen in Anthropology and also
in Psychology. Specially, the ideas of Foucault, who stressed that
concepts such as ‘madness’ have social connotations and also
Jacques Lacan, who stated that the subconscious was a replica of a
system, emphasized the accuracy and validity of Structuralism.
Structuralist Saussure used Linguistic Structure to explain
Structuralism
What is Post-Structuralism?

Post-Structuralism can be understood as a criticism of

Structuralism. Unlike Structuralism, which brought the idea of the
existence of a structure, Post-Structuralists rejected this. They
believed that in order to understand something, it was necessary to
study not only the subject itself, but also the system of knowledge,
since it can be misinterpreted. The foundation for this was laid by the
ideas of Ferdinand de Saussure, Claude Levi-Strauss, and Jacques
Derrida. Post-Structuralism is believed as historical whereas
Structuralism is believed to be descriptive. This is because Post-
Structuralism engages in an analysis of history to understand
concepts. For example, the interpretation of concepts in the past can
greatly differ from the present. Post-Structuralists pay attention to
these changes.
What is the difference between Post-Structuralism and
Structuralism?

• Structuralism emphasizes the existence of a structure in

understanding varied phenomena.

• Post Structuralism can be understood as a criticism of

Structuralism.

• Post-Structuralism is believed as historical whereas Structuralism is

believed to be descriptive.