What is binary opposition?
Binary opposition is the structure of having conflict ideas/characters in a media text. A more professional definition is: “Binary opposition is a system of language and/or thought by which two theoretical opposites are strictly defined and set off against one another-12. It is a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning” (definition from Wikipedia and Cambridge dictionary). It is an important concept that explores the differences of culture, class, and gender.
Examples in media…
Snow white and the evil queen. (1937)
The classic story of Snow White (1937) entails the story of a sweet girl whom the evil queen (who is also her stepmother) despises. Snow White then flees to the forest to hide from her stepmother aka evil queen, and resides in a cottage that was surprisingly already inhabited by seven dwarfs. The evil queen finds out she is still alive, disguises as an old lady to poison her, but of course the prince swooped in, gave her a smooch, and Snow White is alive and working again. This is the classic good vs evil structure, but also it conveys light vs dark, color vs black.
Harry Potter (2001-2011)
The story of the “boy who lived”, is a classic good vs evil narrative as well, yet it also covers the class difference structure. Harry Potter was born to Lily and James Potter. Lily was a muggleborn, meaning she was a witch who was born from a muggle (aka non-witch/wizard, commoner). Whereas James was a pureblood, meaning he was born from a witch and a wizard (that have no muggle in theme), just pure. Some ( cough cough Voldemort) despised their relationship because it was not widely accepted to be mixing with muggleborns. Muggles/common folk are inferior to witches/wizards because of how they treated the witch/wizard ancestors in the past (one prominent example: the Salem Witch Trials). The whole reason Voldemort (aka the antagonist) goes after Harry Potter in the first place is because of his “half-blood” nature and Voldemort’s unsuccessful attempt at killing him. So, this book/movie series explores the hero vs villain narrative but also represents a class system.
The yellow wallpaper (2021)
This is actually what we just completed reading in my AICE Literature class. A book that was turned into a movie about the difference in gender. It covers the story of a woman, Mary, who has depression, yet her husband, John (a psychiatrist) tries to cure her in an unsuccessful way. His treatment aka the rest cure entails for Mary to rest, forget about her hobbies, and enjoy her time away in their newly rented mansion. Yet, this does not work, actually it continues to drive her into madness because without her hobbies –which bring her joy– it makes life lonely for her, especially since her husband is away a lot for work. Although, she continues to trust in her husband, not just because of his profession, but simply because he is her husband and she answers to him. Another important detail is John shields her from the truth, and she blindly accepts that. He distracts her with his words and his love to prevent Mary from thinking there is another solution. The yellow wallpaper is what becomes Mary’s obsession, since she cannot do anything else. Her own mind (with the yellow wallpaper) drives her into hysteria, and at the end, she is tearing away the wallpaper, symbolizing her tearing away herself and going into insanity. This book/movie expresses the binary opposition of gender and reflects the societal norms in which the book was published (19th century), showing how Mary’s devotion to her husband killed her because she (and he) believed that the rest cure could've saved her.
What does this have to do with my video?
-In my video, it will reflect the idea of love vs heartbreak. This opposition in narrative is classic for rom coms, the genre my film intro is based on. The love primarily felt will be juxtaposed with heartbreak in having to do long distance, which does not go well. Just like in many films, the details matter and this opposition will be conveyed through wardrobe, lighting, sound. Throughout the film intro, I want the theme of tugging hearts, young love and heartbreak to be received by the audience. This is a style of rom com that is based off of Shakespearean comedies. The tragedy (the distance/separation of the couple) is the beginning, and the storyline follows a comedic narrative. As a whole film (which is obviously not being done, but so you get the idea), there will be a back and forth between light, dark, happy, sad, love and heartbreak –just to keep the audience on their toes but also reflect the nature of real world relationships that have highs and lows, exploring all the aspects of a relationship. I will leave you with this:
I'm going to start including my schedule in every blog so you can see in real time what I get done (and don’t get done…)
January 18th-20th: Further blogs on idea
January 27th: blogs due
February 1st: chose filming location
February 3rd: Blogs due, reveal title of film intro
February 7th: ask Frances (again) to be in video and write the plot/dialogue [half done]
February 10th: figure out costumes, camera, and editing software (AND BLOGS DUE)
February 14th: Get filming down for first 45 - 60 seconds of film intro
February 17th: Blogs due
February 24th: Blogs due
February 28th: Get filming done for the second half
March 1st: Save the day for any refilming needed
March 3rd: Begin editing process
March 7th: See if you have time to stop by You Media.
Marth 10th- 11th: complete CCR
March 17th - 21st: Edit CCR and finalize the film intro
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