Narrative Codes Analysis

I'm back,


Roland Barthes describes five narrative codes - which will be of much use when creating our thriller opening.


Action Code
The audience will recognise and action code in a media text as it is used to indicate what is the next logical step. It advances the narrative e.g the buckling of a bug belt in a Western film signifies the start of a gun fight.


Our own uses:
- We incorporate a shot of a knife with blood on it being dropped - indicating that a murder has taken place.


Mystery Coe or Enigma Code
This code if 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.


Our own uses:
- A dark, hooded figure out on the street; who is he? Why is he there? What's he going to do? These questions help increase the tension as it leaves questions hanging for the audience, increasing the chance that they'll continue watching so that these questions are answered.


The Semic Code
Basically, 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.


Our own uses:
- We use police tape in the opening shot in the morning, which is a semic code for the fact that a crime has been committed and that the authorities are now present.


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 to elements from the real world that the audience will recognise. e.g Aston Martins & Martinis in James Bond films.


Our own uses:
- The famous five book is the book where the five get in trouble - foreshadowing the trouble our victim is about to be in.