Roland Barthes explained that there were one or more of five different codes that were woven into any narrative. He described texts as either being 'open' or 'closed. An open piece of text would have multiple interpretations and multiple clues/ideas whereas a closed piece of text would have only one single interpretations. The five codes that Barthes discovered were...

 

• Proairetic code

• Hermeneutic code

• Semantic code

• Symbolic code

• Cultural code

 

 

Proairetic code - Action code:

Barthes believed that this code was a way of advancing the narrative, it builds tension and leaves the audience guessing and asking questions. Proairetic elements add suspence to a narrative and anchors the audience. This type of code would normally be found in a film targeted at males as 'action' is a big part of this code and often includes scenes of violence (guns, weapons, crime) An example would be a man aiming a gun at his enemy but the audience would be left in suspence to who would die. This code often works alongside the Hermeneutic code as they tie in together sharing the same features. For example, Dead Man Running (2009) uses this code.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hermeneutic code - Enigma code:

This code refers to an element of a story which is not fully explained. A narrative with this code often contains a sense of mystery and makes the audience questionable. Using this code within a narrative usually frustrates an audience but also pulls them in as they want to find out what happens next and they also want their questions answered. It is not usually till the end of a piece of text that all answers are revealed and everything starts to make sense. For example, Se7en (1995) uses this code.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Semantic code:

This code refers to connotation within a narrative. Connotation is the way in which meaning is created. For example, red connotes danger, anger, passion and love. The use of connotations within a narrative creates a deeper meaning over the denotations and it helps the author create a larger picture to what is happening within the text. The audience will understand the narrative more clearly as the text is in much larger detail. For example Brothers (2009) uses this code.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Symbolic code:

The symbolic and semantic code are similar, however the symbolic code organises meanings into much deeper sets of meaning. This is created by the use of binary opposites. Binary opposites is the contrast between two mutually exclusive concepts such as good and evil, day and night or male and female. Binary opposites create a deeper meaning from opposing and conflicting ideas. For example Jurrasic Park (1993) uses this code.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cultural code - Referential code:

This code is a piece of text that is read with understanding due to cultural awareness such as youth culture. A film within Britain would use  places and landmarks that the British culture recognise. Using a cultural code within a film allow the audience to connect with the film as if the film is about  Britain and they are from Britain they will know the place well to refer to it. For example Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) uses this code.