Roland Barthes Codes Theory by Tyler West

Roland Barthe was a French literary theorist, critic and philosopher involved with a study of cultural signs and symbols and their meanings. He described text as being

a galaxy of signifiers, not a structure or signifieds; it has no beginning; it is reversible; we gain access to it by several entrances none of which can be authoritatively declared to be the main one; the codes it mobilizes extend as far as the eye can read, they are indeterminable the systems of meaning can take over this absolutely plural text, but their number is never closed, based as it is on the infinity of language
What he meant by this is that text/images are puzzles that need to be un-puzzled for us to be inclined to a range or interpretations, meanings and understandings. For example seeing the narrative from one persons perspective, create a response to that version. Next focusing on the same narrative, but from another perspective. This creates a completely different response. He often said that texts may be open or closed depending on whether the creator wanted to achieve a preferred response or not. He narrowed the action of texts down to five codes which can be applied to narratives listed below. -The Hermeneutic Code (HER) This is where the story can avoid telling the truth or revealing all the facts, in order to drop clues in throughout to help create mystery within the text. -The Enigma/Proairetic Code (ACT) Is when the tension is created in suspense so that the audience imagines/guesses what happens next within the text. -The Symbolic Code (SYM) Similar to the semantic code but possesses a bigger range as it looks into the deeper meanings of the meanings already being suggested. (Use of antithesis something/one that is the direct opposite of someone or something) This causes new meaning to arise out of oppositional ideas. -The Cultural Code (REF) Is also known as the voice of science as it focuses on the audiences knowledge, cultural and ideology. -The Semantic Code (SEM) This refers to any conventional element in a text which suggests a meaning, often through the use of connotation.

OUR APPLICATION OF THIS:

For our Music video I think this theory will be very relevant as it focuses on Narrative which is what our main concept of the video is going to be. To make the story telling interesting and ensure the audience is engaged throughout we are not going to reveal clearly what happens next but instead will use the Hermeneutic Code. The audience will have to interpret the clues (subliminal messages) throughout which creates mystery and misguiding illusions in the video to keep them guessing throughout. We will do this by having a clear outline of what we would like our ending to be, and suggesting possible ways that we could represent this throughout, without being obvious to the audience.