Applying Levi Strauss theory to the opening of 'Pale Rider' and 'Die Hard'

Claude Levi-strauss, a french anthropologist, who recently died at the age of 100, considered how story telling is used as a means of coping with the fundamental contradictions and irresolvable difficulties of a society. Levi-strauss said that story elements which give meaning will usually appear in pairs. For example a story will typically be organised into opposites such as:

hero/villian
rich/poor
male/female

Applying levi-strausses theory to 'Pale Rider'

peace-violence

peaceful music-harsh tones of horse foot

still-rushing

man alone-group of riders

smiling-crying

calm-anger

dominance-dominated

burning flame-bucket of water

have gold-want gold

christian-no respect for christ

friendly-aggresive

atrractive-ugly

Applying Levi-Strauss's theory to 'Die Hard'

togetherness-lonliness

life-death

policeman-criminal

happy-sad

atrractive-ugly

funny-boring

young-old

experienced-rookie

missed-moved on

male-female

exciting job-ordinary job

married-divorced

peace-violence

drunk-sober

not aware-determind

japanese-american

party-criminal mission