Levi Strauss' binary opposition theory Levi Strauss' binary opposition theory is about the creation of a bias towards

a certain person, group of people and/or situation through media, done in a way in which actions, techniques and emotions are used to create contrast. Below is an example of binary opposition theory we often see on British television, news channels making other countries appear as antagonists: From the British news viewpoint. Terrorists/Taliban: Violent: wave guns around. Blow people up soldiers look old/we can't see their faces due to turbines and beards. Praying or killing/ link actions to religion. Woman in full burkas and no education. Kids getting brainwashed in fanatical mosques. At funerals: People in Hysteria, body loosely wrapped in shroud. Often guns waving, screams and grief. US/UK soldiers: Heroic: guns to protect and defend. Get blown up/ injured young soldiers. Helmets and clean shaved heads. Humanized/ recognized as similar to us. Often only seen praying at Christmas. Seen with kids/ reinforces idea of kindness/protectiveness. Woman here seen more as equals. Coffins, flags and parade. No crying/dignified. Looks as if we care more. The media makes British citizens believe that the taliban/terrorists are the source of all the fighting, almost that they enjoy the wars and causing destruction. The media (mainly the news) also often links terrorists to religions, often showing clips of them praying and wearing religious attire. This causes discrimination towards certain religions (often muslim) within Britian as well as certain ethnic groups which are associated with these religions, people typically claiming things such as all Muslims are terrorists which of course is not true. This creates an almost fear of people of certain ethnicities and religions which can often lead to them being mistreated and looked down upon, as if to keep them from acting against them. In other cases it gives people a false superiority for their ethnic group and religion and once again leads to them looking down upon the other group. However the media makes the British soldiers appear almost angelic, often seen in pictures with their families and new-born babies. They show footage of them interacting with people affected by war, often children. They also mention every few months about prince Harry who also happens to do work for the British army, using his image as a prince (not only a prince but a the prince of our country) to advertise the army as being something of high status and honor.