Barthes Five Codes

Roland Barthes was a French literary theorist who explored a diverse range of fields and influenced the development of schools.

The five codes are;

• The Hermeneutic/ Enigma Code (HER)
The purpose of his is to keep the audience guessing until the final scenes when all is revealed and closure is achieved.
• The  Proairetic/ Action Code (ACT)
Also builds tension, referring to any other action or event that indicates something else is going to happen. the hermeneutic and proairetic codes work together to develop the stories tensions and keeps the reader interested.

• The Semantic Code (SEM)
This code refers to the connotation within the story that gives additional meaning over the basic denotative meaning of the word. It is by the use of extended meaning that can be applied to words that authors can paint rich pictures with relatively limited text and the way they do this is a common indication of their writing skills

• The Symbolic Code (SYM)
This is very similar to the sematic code but acts at a wider level, organising semantic meaning into broader and deeper sets of meaning. This is typically done in the use of antithesis, where new meaning arises out of opposing and conflict ideas

• The Referential/ Cultural Code (REF)
This code refers to anything that is founded on some kind of canonical works that cannot be challenged and is assumed to be a foundation for truth. Typically this involves either science or religion, although other canons such as magical truths may be used in fantasy stories. The gnomic code is a cultural code  that particularly refers to sayings, proverbs, clichés, and other common meaning giving words sets.

Saving Private Ryan

The Hermeneutic/ Enigma Code  (HER)

Where are they going?Who are they?

What do the flags signify?

Was he an ex solider?

Is he related to the deceased?

What's happening?

The Proairetic/ Action Code (ACT)

drums added to non diegetic music

close up of his eyes  music intensifies as he walks up to the grave

The Semantic Code (SEM)

change to higher diegetic soundslows down the pace of the music

The Symbolic Code (SYM)

flags cemetery music - violins, drums, trumpets

The Referential/ Cultural Code (REF)

both flags 

Using Barthes Codes

Using Barthes narrative codes, in a group, we applied these to a film and also our own story based on the outsider. We chose the rom com genre as this I think would be the most different as the outsider includes gangs and ambushes in which we were able to apply to ours in a unique way.

Fistful Of Dollars 

Hermeneutic codes- Which is the good team?

                                 Who's going to die?

                                 Who's going to shoot first?

Proairetic codes - Music intensifies 

                            Reaches for their guns 

Semantic codes - Laughing 

Symbolic codes - Clothing 

                            Scenery

Referential codes - Gun fight

Our Rom Com

Hermeneutic codes - How far will they go to win the guy?

                                  What does he think of it all?

Proairetic codes- Setting traps for each other 

                            Revenge 

Semantic codes - Laughing

                            Overheard Conversations 

Symbolic codes - The guy 

                            The two opposite girl clichés 

Referential codes - Girly fights 

                              Dumb blonde characters