Binary Opposites - Levis-Strauss Theory

   

    Levi Strauss proposed a theory of 'binary opposites' which entails that the majority of narratives in media forms such as books and films contain opposing main characters or themes to drive the plot forward. 

Case Study - The Sea Beast 2022

    The Sea Beast's main plot and subplots lean heavily into the theory of binary opposites. Themes such as:

Good vs Evil - In the beginning, the plot seemed to be about the good humans/hunters vs the evil sea beasts, a very classic slay the dragon storyline. But later on it shifts from humans protecting themselves from evil bloodthirsty monsters to creatures trying to live in a world where an act of survival can be seen as malicious monstrous behavior. So instead it turns into good people protecting beasts from bad hunters. 

Code vs Goal -The hunters in the movie have a strong code they follow, helping other hunters even if it means letting a beast swim away. In the movie the main soon-to-be villain Captain Crow was about to kill a beast he'd been after for years, only to abandon that goal to help a fellow hunter ship who's being attacked by another beast. The side villains, the king, and queen challenge this Hunter's Code by saying that if he doesn't fulfill his goal of killing the beast, the hunters would no longer be funded by the crown. 

Man vs Nature -Man vs nature is very strong in this movie as well. It begins with humans vs monsters, the movie still holds that theme close to home by the end of the movie but in a different way. Going from the hunters hunting bad monsters of the sea to scared beasts fighting for their survival in the sea. It's not their fault humans sail on their home, the ocean. 

Lies vs Honesty -At the end of the movie it is shown why hunters were driven to hunt in the first place. The crown concocted a conspiracy that beasts started the war when in reality it was the opposite. The war ended by the main character Maisie exposing the crown by showing them the beasts aren't violent, they just want to survive, by having The Red Bluster carry her on its head.