In anthropology, the theory of structuralism focuses on the understanding of a large, overarching system by studying specific elements or “deep structures” of human culture. Claude Levi- Strauss is most commonly known as the founder of structuralist anthropology. Levi-Strauss proposed that the innate properties of the human mind, or the subconscious patterns of human thought, produce similar cultural phenomena in distinct cultures. He studied communicative exchanges in the domains of kinship, myth, and language within a culture to understand the underlying structures of the culture of interest. A unique approach he utilized was the analysis of prominent myths, such as the myths of Oedipus and Asdiwal. Levi-Strauss identified parallels between events in the myths and authentic anthropological theories and concepts, and discovered particular elements that reflect the similarities between different cultures and their traditions. He also emphasized the importance of viewing myths as the “transformations of social existence” rather than reflections of social reality. Such “transformations” and similarities between cultures demonstrate his prevailing idea of innate properties dictating the formation of cultural exchange and organization.
Levi-Strauss’s structuralist anthropology may be utilized to observe specific aspects of a culture or society. For example, an anthropologist may study the relationship between individuals in a kinship system and their interactions through a structuralist lens. Using Levi-Strauss’s ideas, one can attempt to understand the underlying structures and function of different relationships of interest to understand the dynamics of the collective kinship system. Consequently, studying a number of kinship systems within a society allow anthropologists to understand the overarching culture of a given community.