Barthes Narrative Code

Barthes' narrative code

Action code
 This is used to indicate which is the next logical step. It advances the narrative and gives the audience an insight of what is about to happen next, for example the buckling of a gun belt in a western film signifies the start of a gun fight.
Our group used action code in our preliminary task. At the start of our video one of the characters was being chased through the woods by a cloaked figure. As he is being chased through the woods the camera keeps blurring and cutting out. This is used effectively as it shows that the character is in danger. Action code is a good thing to use here as it shows the danger without revealing too much about the cloaked character chasing the other character through the woods, this increases suspense and allows the audience to use their imaginations.

Mystery Code or Enigma Code
This code is used to explain the narrative by controlling what and how much information is given to the audience. It grabs the audience's interest and attention by setting up an enigma or problem that is resolved during the course of the narrative, e.g. someone's murderous hand in the opening sequence - who does it belong to? In our preliminary task when the character is being chased through the woods the audience have no idea why he is being chased. I think we used this effectively as is causes suspense with the audience and creates a sense of mystery.

The Semic Code
This code is all about signs and meanings in a text that tell us about its narrative and characters e.g. in a horror film, the supernatural would be signified by the fear of light or garlic to signify an evil monster like a vampire or zombie.

The Cultural Code
This code is used in order for the narrative to make sense to a culturally and socially aware audience. It makes reference to elements from the real world that the audience will recognise e.g. Aston Martins in James Bond films. We didn't manage to use the cultural code in our preliminary piece but it would have probably been better if we did.

Code of Oppositions
This code refers to a narrative that relies on binary opposites e.g. black v white, hot v cold etc. The cloaked figure in our preliminary piece was wearing black and you couldn't see their face. Whereas Sam was wearing some lighter colours.