Structuralism, Post-structuralism, and Structuration
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This document outlines three schools of thought - structuralism, post-structuralism, and structuration. Structuralism sees our lives as determined by impersonal social structures that pre-exist us. Post-structuralism emerged from structuralism and rejects Enlightenment reason, focusing on interconnected power-knowledge and disciplinary power that imprints on bodies. Structuration theory links structure and agency interactively, rejecting a strict dichotomy between the two. Theorists discussed include de Saussure, Foucault, Lacan, Althusser, Derrida, Bourdieu, and Giddens.
Structuralism, Post-structuralism, and Structuration
- 2. OBJECTIVES Distinguish three schools Identify theorists Understand major concepts* Outline criticisms *Focus on Foucault
- 5. ORIGINS Critique of humanist view: Self-directing Autonomous Agents of free will
- 7. GOAL Understand impersonal effects of social structures
- 8. STRUCTURALISM Our lives structured by Social Cultural Historical Political
- 10. STRUCTURALISM These structures/systems Pre-exist us Constitute us Make us assimilate
- 11. SIGNS Signals that inform Exist independently of us System of meaning, symbolism, interpretation
- 13. SEM IOTICS Study of signs Vital to social critique of capitalism (Barthes)
- 14. STRUCTURALISM As a social theory concerned with Power Domination
- 15. CRITICISMS Arbitrary world? Difference is context dependent *Ahistorical
- 17. What should we make of the “post” in post-structuralism?
- 19. ORIGINS Rejection of Enlightenment reason Grew out of and in reaction to structuralism
- 21. POWER - KNOWLEDGE New form - interconnected Power without a subject How disciplinary codes and punishment imprint on human body
- 22. DISCIPLINARY POWER Power that is Hidden Monotonous Invisible
- 23. PA N O P T I C O N
- 24. PANOPTICAL SURVEILLANCE Surveillance that Monitors all actions Keeps records
- 26. PANOPTICAL SURVEILLANCE Represents reorganization of power
- 27. CARCERAL SOCIETY Panopticon metaphor for Iron cage Totally administered society
- 28. DOCILE BODIES A body that can be Subjected Used Improved Transformed
- 29. CRITICISMS Schools, hospitals = prisons? Discourse > action? Resistance to disciplinary power?
- 30. STRUCTURATION
- 33. GOAL How can we link “structure” and “agency” together to understand social world?
- 34. STRUCTURE Patterns and forms that make up society
- 35. AGENCY Actions taken by individual actors
- 36. STRUCTURATION No strict dichotomy Relationship between “structure” and “agency” is interactive
- 37. STRUCTURATION Structure and agency do not constrain each other Enable each other
- 38. CRITICISMS “Structuration” = fancy label? Never synthesizes structure + agency Does not solve problems
- 39. CONCLUSION
- 40. CITED Cuff et al (2009) Perspectives in Sociology Elliott (2009) Contemporary Social Theory Foucault (1995) Discipline and Power
- 41. THANK YOU! Danielle Dirks, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Sociology Occidental College dirks@oxy.edu danielledirks.com @danielledirks
- 43. STRUCTURALISM
- 46. M YTH Renders Social reality “natural” Structure invisible
- 47. Examples of myths? What do they signify?
- 49. BIOPOWER Exercise of control over Bodies Populations
- 50. G O V E R N M E N TA L I T Y Preparing self to be Governed Regulated