According to Claude Levi-Strauss, texts convey their meanings through a system of binary oppositions.
Evaluate this structuralist theory. Refer to the set episodes of HUMANS [30]
In HUMANS binary oppositions play a key role in the telling of the story. One of the biggest binary oppositions is that of Human vs Robot. This is personified in the conflict between Anita (the synth) and Laura (mother of the Hawkins family). In one scene in the first episode of HUMANS Anita is reading a book to the young daughter and Laura feels disturbed and let out in this situation. This creates conflict as she see's Anita as an invading force trying to take over her position as a mother which leads to questions about the purpose of the synths and their ability to replace humans. As their synth, Anita is owned by the Hawkins family and make their lives easier by doing cleaning, cooking and looking after the children which are stereotypical housewife roles. Laura, as a lawyer, is often away from home for long periods of time meaning she subverts this stereotype and as such many feel from societal hegemony that she is not doing her job as a mother right. Her protective nature, especially over her youngest daughter, when around Anita may be caused by some of these anxieties as well as any other concerns over the physical safety of the synth. Anita as a free minded synth who has been reprogrammed, has motherly instincts slip through time and time again. She wants to look after Sophie but to Laura this is not natural. Laura see's Anita looking at the moon which greatly confuses and distresses her as Anita says "The moon is beautiful tonight". How could a synth have concept of beauty and enjoyment from that beauty? This causes Laura's anxieties to increase even more creating a bigger opposition between them.
Another binary opposition is Free-will vs Slavery. In one of the very first scenes we are shown a group of synths who are said to have feelings and independent thought. Three are captured including Fred, a black synth. When we next see Fred he is in an orange farm picking fruit from the trees with a brand of the company which owns him on his arm. This is an extreme allegory of the situation concerning the slave trade and black cotton pickers in the past. He was abducted against his will and forced to work, being owned by someone, against his will. In order to maintain a low profile he does as he is told until he can find a chance of escape to reunite with his friends. This is a situation that would occur in real life cotton plantations and so with its allegorical truth creates a strong sense of sadness and unity with the audience. It raises ethical considerations because we, the audience, know Fred is sentient so how is his treatment okay? It once again raises the question of whether synth emotions are real or can be considered as such.
Another binary opposition is Free-will vs Slavery. In one of the very first scenes we are shown a group of synths who are said to have feelings and independent thought. Three are captured including Fred, a black synth. When we next see Fred he is in an orange farm picking fruit from the trees with a brand of the company which owns him on his arm. This is an extreme allegory of the situation concerning the slave trade and black cotton pickers in the past. He was abducted against his will and forced to work, being owned by someone, against his will. In order to maintain a low profile he does as he is told until he can find a chance of escape to reunite with his friends. This is a situation that would occur in real life cotton plantations and so with its allegorical truth creates a strong sense of sadness and unity with the audience. It raises ethical considerations because we, the audience, know Fred is sentient so how is his treatment okay? It once again raises the question of whether synth emotions are real or can be considered as such.
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