What is the Difference Between Post-Structuralism and Structuralism?

Structuralism and post-structuralism are two different literary movements that address the concept of understanding language and human culture. The main differences between them are:

1. Approach to understanding phenomena: Structuralism emphasizes the existence of a structure in understanding varied phenomena, such as language, culture, and society. Post-structuralism, on the other hand, questions the objectivity or stability of structures and often critiques structuralism itself.
2. Historical vs. Descriptive: Post-structuralism is considered historical, as it engages in the analysis of history to understand concepts, while structuralism is considered descriptive.
3. Rejection of pre-established structures: Post-structuralism discards the idea of interpreting media or the world within pre-established, socially constructed structures.
4. Interrogation of binary oppositions: Post-structuralists often question the binary oppositions that constitute structuralism's structures.
5. Focus on systems of knowledge: Unlike structuralism, which focuses on structures, post-structuralism emphasizes the study of both the subject itself and the systems of knowledge that produced the subject.
6. Influential theorists: The primary theorist for structuralism was Ferdinand de Saussure, while post-structuralism evolved alongside the work of Jacques Derrida and his theory of deconstruction, which emphasized the concept of unstable, unfixed meaning in language.

In summary, structuralism focuses on understanding phenomena through structures, while post-structuralism questions the stability and objectivity of these structures and engages in historical analysis to interpret concepts.

Comparative Table: Post-Structuralism vs Structuralism

Here is a table summarizing the differences between post-structuralism and structuralism:

In summary, structuralism focuses on understanding the world through structures and relationships, while post-structuralism criticizes this approach and emphasizes the multiplicity of truths and the instability of meaning.