Barthes 'Narrative Codes'
In our preliminary piece we unknowingly used 4 of Barthes' narrative codes, which are;
- Action Code; this is used to indicate the next logical step.
- Mystery Code/Enigma Code; this is used to explain the narrative by controlling how much information is fed to the audience before revealing the end.
- Semic Code; this explains any signs or meanings which could relate to the narrative symbolically.
- Cultural Code; to make the audience understand the social and cultural context of the film.
- Code of Opposites; refers to a narrative that relies on binary opposites, eg.. black v white.
We used the action code when we showed Darby and Myself walking through the cupboard door, which shows the audience that we are going somewhere.
We used the Enigma Code when the antagonist (Darby) watches the Victim (Carmel) and the Protagonist(Myself) run away up the corridor, and then the attacker comes out and walks the other way with a dazed look on her face as if she is thinking of a way to get them back.
We used the Cultural Code as we set the film in a school which shows that we are educated and also the language we are speaking English.
We used Opposites symbolically as the antagonist was wearing dark/grey clothes which represented her as a dark, villainous character, whereas the protagonist was wearing normal clothes crossed between black and white, and the victim was wearing bright coloured clothes which showed her innocence and how normal her life was before the attack.
