Actantial Model Research Articles

La publicitación de los feminicidios de madres buscadoras en México

This article analyzes the publicizing of the femicides of searching mothers from the perspective of sociology of critique. To this end, it tests an actantial model of complaints through a digital ethnography based on public texts, with the purpose of understanding the slow process of configuration of this social problem as a public problem. The work analyzes this type of feminicide, whose execution pattern is related to the field of organized violence, through a strategy focused on the justifications of the actors involved. In this logic, it reconstructs the stories and narratives of the political and social actors involved in the process, describes relationships between experts and victims in the complaint and access to justice, and provides elements for understanding the meaning that social and political actors give to their experiences of this borderline social problem. The article closes with some considerations about the challenges in researching the structural effects of this type of violence in the field of social sciences and multi-localized public action at a national and subnational scale.

“It Had to Be Us”: The Rudolph Effect and the Inclusion of Unconventional Leaders

More insights are needed about how to overcome situations where conventional leadership breaks down. By teasing apart concepts and processes associated with the inclusion of unconventional leaders, Greimas and Courtès’ actantial model is leveraged to collate the relationships threaded by the actors involved with the 2018 rescue mission of the Wild Boars soccer team in Thailand. What we label as the Rudolph Effect describes how outcasts, misfits, and mavericks can be redefined as valuable members of a leadership team. This case study suggests that providing opportunities for unconventional team members to demonstrate their skills and capital allows them to shift from supporting or advisory roles to more decisional and leadership roles. Both theoretical and practical managerial tools that facilitate the development and inclusion of unconventional leaders are provided.

Reframing Resilience Narratives for (Rural) Communities Using the Actantial Model

As polities of all kinds are under pressure to achieve socio-environmental sustainability and resilience, existing assessment tools diagnosing communities’ vitality assets and vulnerabilities face challenges. These include grappling with incomplete data, incongruent models, and diverse indicator schemes from various scientific and professional domains. Moreover, these assessments draw upon multiple, sometimes unclear, and occasionally overlapping conceptualisations of ‘sustainability’ and ‘resilience’. This complexity makes monitoring system dynamics difficult, particularly in smaller rural communities with limited resources. This essay addresses this science policy and epistemic dilemma by proposing Greimas’s actantial model as a solution. The model, initially designed for understanding language and stories, is adapted to connect and integrate diverse data and indicator narratives across disciplines to inform policies at various levels of governance. This essay discusses recent debates on the conceptualisation of sustainability/resilience and its associated challenges, exploring how Greimas’s model may allow more constructive dialogue about conflicting views on resilience and sustainability. The model is presented as a planning template to foster communication across disciplines, social actors, and polities. The conclusion emphasises the model’s simplicity as a tool to overcome jargon, bridge communication gaps, and provide guidance for smaller rural communities facing resource constraints in assessing and implementing initiatives for sustainability and resilience.

Building legitimacy in flexible work projects: A study on institutional, organizational, and individual narratives

The purpose of this paper is to investigate legitimacy building narratives of project managers in flexible work projects and their articulation with institutional, organizational, and individual narratives. We use Greimas actantial model to analyze four case studies, collecting data from 27 interviews of project managers, employees and line managers as well as extensive secondary data. This study contributes to project management literature by identifying legitimacy building mechanisms that project managers use in their narratives: on one hand, they build on institutional and organizational narrative components to produce their own project narratives; on the other hand, they perform identity work through heroification to build their own legitimacy as project managers. We also show how some of these narratological components are challenged by other organizational actors (employees and line managers). On a methodological level, we also reflect on Greimas’ actantial model as a tool to analyze and compare project narratives at different levels and from different groups of actors.

El conde Alarcos: Honor, Excess, and the King

Abstract: The Count Alarcos plays, although tragic for the most part, do not deal with a whimsical fate or a cosmic infringement of moral law. An actantial model shows how dramatic characters like Count Alarcos and the Royal Infanta shape their own destinies by insisting on their excessive singularity. The King in these works tries to remove that excess by honorable means, which, moreover, infringe on the rights of others, creating an imbalance. Hence, supplementary forces intervene to establish an equilibrium between two contending forces: a primary claim to love and honor, which demands recognition and legitimacy, and a secondary claim to love and honor, which demands validity and continuity. If a reconciliation ensues, one has a sense of ethical tranquility; if not, death and tribulation follow.

Constructing an Event: A Narratological Perspective on Ibn Ḥaǧar and the al‑Harawī Affair

Ibn Ḥaǧar al‑ʿAsqalānī’s accounts of the al‑Harawī affair have been extensively studied by Joel Blecher. Yet, this article proposes a new focus on that passage of the Inbāʾ al‑Ġumr, from a narratological perspective. It aims to analyse the narratological processes through which Ibn Ḥaǧar constructed a narrative of this fact, turning it into a narratological event. Compared to other chronicles, the textual space given to this academic discussion and the way the protagonists—among whom Ibn Ḥaǧar himself—are staged show how the narration is a particular occasion for historicizing the Self. The action is organised by the author according to a dialectical composition that leads to the denunciation of the fraud and the revelation of the author as the true master in ḥadīṯ, and finally announces the deferred achievement of the narrative sequence. The constructed emplotment of the event appears even more clearly through the roles that are given to each character that can be analysed thanks to Greimas’ works on the actantial model in tales. The narratological value of these roles is emphasized through the obvious shift which Ibn Ḥaǧār creates between the socio‑political life of the sultanate and the narration of this event. The emplotment of the disruption provoked by al‑Harawī’s arrival in Cairo is an occasion for Ibn Ḥaǧar to present himself as the subject of history, participating in the creation of his own fame as the restorer of religion and justice.

Hegemonic Masculinity and Homosexuality in Contemporary Indonesian Motion Picture

Homosexuality in Indonesia is examined in through its contemporary motion picture. The data for this study came from the motion picture named Arisan! released in 2003. This study incorporated Foucault's theory of sexuality as a social construction, Connell's Hegemonic Masculinity, and A,J Greimas’ Narrative Structuralism . Numerous findings can be found in the research, including the actantial model and functional model of the story in Arisan!. Additionally, this research discovered that homosexuality in Indonesia is subordinated.

‘장화신은 고양이’ 캐릭터를 활용한 트랜스미디어 스토리텔링 연구

In the era of digital convergence, transmedia storytelling, which expands narratives by intertwining and combining multiple media, is creating a new paradigm for narrative creation. Puss in Boots, who appeared as a supporting role in <Shrek2>, is a character derived from Charles Perrault's The Master Cat or Puss in Boots, and has gained significant popularity among the public. Due to its popularity, Puss in Boots became the main character in <Puss in Boots1>, a spin-off of <Shrek2>. Subsequently, as <Puss in Boots1> achieved success, various transmedia content featuring Puss in Boots as the main character was produced across different media platforms, including mobile games, theatrical animations, OTT animations and interactive animation.
 This article aims to provide a detailed examination of the requirements and characteristics of transmedia storytelling. It also analyzes various instances of transmedia content utilizing the character of Puss in Boots. To scrutinize the transformation of characters' roles and the expansion of narrative structures, which are essential aspects of transmedia storytelling, we apply the 'actantial model' developed by A.J. Greimas to each content. Through this analysis, we can explore how the character of Puss in Boots serves as a pivotal link between transmedia contents and functions as a narrative mechanism. It becomes evident that discovering archetypal and fantasy characters, adapting their roles and personalities, and strategically reintroducing secondary characters while setting up foreshadowing are crucial elements in successful transmedia storytelling. Furthermore, it is essential to create an “integral” story universe that considers various types of connections between content, such as sequels, prequels, spin-offs, and reboots. This should be done while leveraging diversified media platforms that engage users in immersion and participation.

A narrative semiotic study of Al-Hariri’s Samarqandiya Maqamat based on Greimas’ Actantial Model

A narrative semiotic study of Al-Hariri’s Samarqandiya Maqamat based on Greimas’ Actantial Model

Analyzing the Concepts of Light and Darkness in Kasrai’s Arash the Archer Based on Greimas’ Isotopy and Actantial Model

Analyzing the Concepts of Light and Darkness in Kasrai’s Arash the Archer Based on Greimas’ Isotopy and Actantial Model

Alexander the Great or Būrān-Dukht: who is the true hero of theDārāb-nāmaof Ṭarsūsī?

AbstractThis article presents a new reading of theDārāb-nāma(Book of Dārāb, ca. eleventh–twelfth century), a medieval popular narrative in prose (dāstān) ascribed to the storyteller Abū Ṭāhir Ṭarsūsī. While the narrative belongs to the Persian tradition of the Alexander romance, the Alexander figure it depicts bears little resemblance to that presented in high classical verse-forms by the likes of Firdawsī, Niẓāmī, Amīr Khusraw Dihlavī, or Jāmī. Although still a conqueror, legitimate ruler, and champion of Islam, the Alexander of theDārāb-nāmaappears in a strongly negative light: he is lame, cowardly, and sly. In fact, most of his success he owes to his once opponent and later wife, Būrān-dukht: could she be the true hero in the story? Drawing on a critical examination of characters based on Greimas's actantial model, this study probes the authorial program and intended audience of theDārāb-nāma, and suggests the work can be read as mock-epic, possibly to cater to a Zoroastrian audience.

“I am the pilot, but i need a committed crew”: Researching early childhood education and care leadership by using the actantial model of power

Leadership in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is changing globally. We investigated ECEC leadership and leaders’ interpretations of power and its realization between leaders and followers, a little researched topic in the field. Our theoretical framework consists of ECEC contextual knowledge and prior research attached with Michel Foucault’s and Mary Parker Follet’s perceptions of power as positive, relational and discursive microphenomenon. Our essay data ( N = 46) was written by ECEC center leaders before participating in educational leaders in-service training. The method of analysis was Greimas’ actantial analysis (1979), which enabled us to build two actantial models of leaders’ perspectives and relation to power. Findings indicate that power is a leader-centered, unstructured and hiding concept needing conscious reframing and integration of positional and non-positional leader roles in the community.

Storytelling in prevention: the case-study of accidents at work. How the narrative method can enhance the prevention of occupational injuries.

This article aims to analyze the elements of the narrative which, applied to investigations of accidents at work, transform them into stories, making the dynamics of accidents clearer, more complete and emotionally engaging and also capable of being transferred to a non-experts audience. The theoretical reference identified for the analysis of the accident histories is the work of the Lithuanian semiologist Algirdas Julien Greimas. The title, the dimensions of space and time, the characters (according to the actantial model), the point of view, the structure of the story (following the canonical narrative scheme), and the moral of the tale are the elements of the narration analyzed in this article. This article illustrates how the dynamics of accidents can lend themselves to being told according to the typical categories of narration and textual organization, resulting in them being enriched with important elements for the communication of prevention and the learning of safe behaviour. The accident investigation that becomes history takes on important characteristics also in terms of communication: the contents become clearer, more accessible and more engaging. Unlike traditional surveys, injury stories, through the elements of the narrative and in particular with the addition of indications for prevention, become an efficient learning and sharing tool valid in training contexts, and the contents effectively usable in practice of prevention workers. The narration applied to accidents at work, allowing for greater attention to the elements of the context, relationships and the emotional sphere of the various actors involved, is able to bring out more clearly the important and various factors that can contribute to causing an accident, becoming thus an effective tool for the transfer of indications for prevention.

Reconstruction of Social Structure: Wagons Between Death and Life: An Evaluation of the Film “Snowpiercer”

Class distinction has been an ongoing phenomenon throughout human history and has become particularly evident with industrialization. Marx's Theory of Classes explains how modes of production give rise to class distinction. For this reason, this study examines Marx's concept of class distinction and how the social effects of class distinction and the roles of ruler and ruled are reflected in cinema. By analyzing the film "Snowpiercer" directed by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, the impact of cinema on the social structure and its semantic structures are discussed. In the study, Marx's Theory of Classes and Greimas' Actantial Model were employed to analyze the film. "Snowpiercer" deals with class distinction as a fundamental theme. The film focuses on the impact of class distinctions on society, and the roles of ruler and ruled within class distinction. The semiotic analysis of the film is based on Greimas' Actantial Model. This analysis aims to reveal the semantic structures of the movie and presents the findings.

An Analysis of the Structure of Fi Halat al-Tufulliyah Treatise Based on the Actantial Model of Greimas

An Analysis of the Structure of Fi Halat al-Tufulliyah Treatise Based on the Actantial Model of Greimas

Gender Stereotypes in Boyd Smith’s the Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith: A Greimas’ Actantial Model

The research attempted to examine the contribution and relevance of structuralism as a theory, method, and paradigm, especially in the study of feminist literary criticism in the novel entitled The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith. Many researchers had scrutinized the novel from various approaches, such as socio-cultural, historical political, and post-colonial studies. However, analysis using actantial models had not been conducted and reported in scholarly journals. The qualitative research utilized textual analysis that practiced a narrative semiotic approach proposed by Greimas. The research used the actantial model proposed by Greimas to evaluate the narrative’s deep structure so as to reveal gender stereotypes of male and female characters in the novel, written in 1906. Although the female character appeared as the main character, she was portrayed as sentimental, emotional, weak, and dependent on the male characters’ help. In contrast, the male characters were shown as dominant figures. They were portrayed as physically strong, rational, thoughtful, and able to prioritize the interests of the wider community and independently achieve the goals they wanted. It is found that the discussion about gender stereotypes in literary works is still relevant to be carried out, especially in literary works, because several kinds of research showcase that the portrayal of stereotyped characters has an unfavorable impact on children’s cognitive and affective development.

Loss and Pursuit: A Greimas Structuralist Analysis of the Japanese Anime Violet Evergarden in the Feminist Perspective

Anime can, to a certain extent, symbolize the growth of Japanese feminism as one of the most significant literary creative forms in contemporary Japan. Although the trend of female characterization in anime in recent years is diversified, there is a lack of independent female characters that break through the traditional gender division. A hugely popular anime called Violet Evergarden in 2018 tells the story of a young girl named Violet who lost her arms in a war, but fortunately regained robotic arms and started to help others write letters. In the process, she, who once knew only combat skills, gradually learned to express her emotions. Her story is a journey of seeking out the true meaning of love. The anime adaptation focuses on her growth and inner self, breaking the gender stereotype and showing Girl Power. This essay examines the feminist implications of Violet Evergarden, revealing its role in the growth of Japanese feminism by using Greimas' actantial model and the semiotic square following structuralism's theoretical thinking.

‘Nothing Succeeds like Excess’ in Lope de Vega’sLa discreta enamorada

AbstractThis paper explores some of the reasons why Lope de Vega’s La discreta enamorada (LDE) has been problematic for critics, actors, and stage directors. It utilizes an actantial model, based partially on those of Souriau, Greimas, and Todorov, to explain LDE’s various actants and dramatic functions. It also studies sundry mises-en-scène of LDE at the USA Chamizal National Memorial, the Almagro Corral de Comedias, the New York Repertorio Español, and, as the zarzuela Doña Francisquita, the Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse. LDE, although farcical, should be read and staged as a “middle” Lopean comedy: between Plautine jocularity and Terentian sobriety.

Female Traditional Gender Roles in The Brothers Grimms' Sleeping Beauty

The tale of the Sleeping Beauty is still one of the well-loved and popular fairy tales among children, especially girls. The story has been adapted into various versions but has not changed essentially—it is always about a princess saved from a curse, about good versus bad. Due to the simple nature of the story, most literary researchers no longer deem this story a valuable source of data anymore although there are still more to uncover from the fairy tale. This study attempts to examine how the female characters in the story are represented from the structural semiotics perspective using two theories proposed by A. J. Greimas, namely the Actantial Model and the Narrative Trajectory. The qualitative method is applied to interpretatively divide the story into different major events, from which an actantial diagram and a trajectory can be made before the representation is drawn. The findings suggest that the female characters in the story are mostly placed as an object of the actantial diagram and a goal in the trajectory; this means that the story puts the female characters in passive roles that comply to the traditional gender roles and female stereotypes.

Greimassian Structure of T’boli Animal Tales

Folk narratives are a part of one’s cultural identity. With the changing times, these narratives are in danger of being forgotten and being lost in obscurity. The effort to retrieve and analyze folk narratives is one way of preserving these narratives. So, this paper analyzed the T’Boli Animal Tales using the Structural approach to literary criticism, particularly A.J. Greimas’ Actantial Model, as well as the Axes Model of Louis Hebert which is an adaptation of Greimas’ model. It also determined the actants found in T’boli animal tales, their formation of axes of desire, power, and transmission, and their similarities and differences in terms of the formation of axes. Results revealed that the majority of the animal tales used follow Greimas’ actantial model, as well as Hebert’s axis model. Although there are similarities in terms of their actants and axes, this study concludes that not all T’Boli Animal Tales’ follow Greimas’ and Hebert’s models. Still, these tales can be understood better using the Actantial Model and Narrative Structures proposed by A.J. Greimas, and the Axis Model proposed by Louis Hebert. Keywords: T’Boli Animal Tales, Greimas’ Actantial Model, Qualitative Research, Philippines