1. STRUCTURALISM
POST-
STRUCTURALISM
STRUCTURATION

2. OBJECTIVES
Distinguish three schools
Identify theorists
Understand major concepts*
Outline criticisms
*Focus on Foucault

3. STRUCTURALISM

4. THEORISTS
*de Saussure
Barthes
Foucault

5. ORIGINS
Critique of humanist view:
Self-directing
Autonomous
Agents of free will

6. ORIGINS
Structural Linguistics

7. GOAL
Understand impersonal effects of
social structures

8. STRUCTURALISM
Our lives structured by
Social
Cultural
Historical
Political

9. STRUCTURALISM
These structures determine
Decisions
Beliefs
Values
Choices

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

12. Examples of signs?

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

16. POST-
STRUCTURALISM

17. What should we make of
the “post” in
post-structuralism?

18. THEORISTS
Lacan
Althusser
Zizek
Derrida
Bourdieu
*Foucault

19. ORIGINS
Rejection of Enlightenment reason
Grew out of and in reaction to
structuralism

20. GOALS
Resolve ahistoricism

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

25. Examples of panoptical
surveillance?

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

31. THEORISTS
Giddens

32. ORIGINS
Critique of functionalism

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

42. ADDITIONAL
CONCEPTS

43. STRUCTURALISM

44. SIGNIFIED
SIGNIFIER

45. BARTHES
Concerned with
Myth
Fashion
Culture
Mass communication

46. M YTH
Renders
Social reality “natural”
Structure invisible

47. Examples of myths?
What do they signify?

48. POST-
STRUCTURALISM

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