Structuralism and Semiotics

For my literary lense, I was assigned Structuralism and Semiotics. Structuralists try to find the thought processes behind the written work, by examining the language itself that is used within the text. Structuralists believe language permeates all facets of modern society and culture and they try to break it down and see what knowledge base is necessary to understand the text.
In the previous night's reading, probably the most fascinating thing to look at through this lense is Adah. Adah's writing is sometimes quite literally backwards: "Emulp Der Eno" (185)., "Nevaeh Ni Seilf Fo Foorp Wen .Rehctacylf Esidarap" (137). Sometimes her writing isn't backwards with letters but just with words: "Walk to Learn. I and Path. Long one is Congo" (135). Adah loves all things symetrical with writing. She does not speak out loud, so writing is her voice and she loves symmetry and poetry in her writing. She even calls herself Ada because it is a proper palindrome. The perspective of this text is certainly one of a mind, inhibited by a rare disease.
      Another interesting part of the reading from last night through this lens is Nathan Price's actions. He himself claims to do the work of God, but on multiple occassions, he strikes his own family. To understand his actions, we must understand the mind of a white southern baptist as well as the stress of being in a foreign country with failures in conversion piling up. Nathan continues to be self-righteous and fraud, and appears one major crisis away from insanity. His stubborness goes against some of the Christian teachings as certainly does his lower view of the African people.

Heart of Darkness v. Apocalypse Now

One of the most striking things I noticed in Apocalypse Now was the way the natives were portrayed. They seem to function as one mindless organism, like bees with Kurtz as their queen.
When the gunboat arrives at Kurtz's dock there are dozens of small fishing boats between the dock and the water that the gunboat is currently occupying. As the gunboat approaches, the natives all give the boat the same blank stare and slowly part just long enough for the boat to get through; after the boat proceeds, the natives slowly reassume their original position, thus swallowing the boat.
When Willard exits after assassinating Kurtz, the natives again act in unison, this time bowing down to the one who has destroyed their queen. As he walks back to the boat the natives part slightly with ominous stares and swallow him up in the same manner as earlier.
This decision by the director is quite curious considering in Heart of Darkness the natives were described by parts: arms, legs, eyes. But never as a single organism, always as individuals. One theory suggests that the natives in Apocalypse Now are a symbol for the communist society of Vietnam. I must admit, there is some merit in this theory. The natives always act in unison, they are purely equal and there is a hidden authority who pulls the strings on them. Communism itself can be seen as similar to a bee hive or an ant hill. There is a central authority and eqial workers and together the unit provides for everyone.
This decision was clearly a deliberate one, and on film it is quite powerful visually.