Theory - Barthe's Codes

Barthes Five Codes

ENIGMA CODE:

Our opening contained a kidnapping, which played on Barthes enigma code, as it occurred during a blackout, which leaves the audience uninformed. It provides a mystery that draws the audience in and poses questions, causing the audience to become intruiged.

ACTION CODE:

In our opening, the boyfriend arriving at the location of the kidnapping could be considered to follow Barthes action code, as the audience has to wait to see what he will do. We don't get to see anything beyond the room. The suspense is created by the action, rather than the audiences desire to have mysteries explained.

SEMIOTIC CODE:

Within our opening, there aren't many signifier's for this code but we have an establishing shot of the road outside which shows a very British, average household, which suggests the film will have a realistic, gritty feel to it, and could represent a serious, dramatic theme due to the conventions of films set in the streets of London.

CULTURAL CODE & SYMBOLIC CODE:


The only place where the cultural code appears in our opening, is when Dani carries the bottles of WKD alcohol down the stairs before putting it into the fridge. The alcohol is a cultural substance, depending on age/location. We also use the symbolic code as we only hear Dani on the phone to her Dad, and with no sign of the mother the audience is left wondering if the Mother in the family has left/gotten a divorce/died? The voiceover can also be a symbolic code as the audience doesn't know the relevance the prison escapee has to the storyline.