Roland Barthes proposed 5 codes that describe the meaning and interpretation of narratives: the hermeneutic code focuses on clues that avoid revealing the full truth; the proairetic code examines how tension is built to leave the audience guessing; the semantic code analyzes connotative meanings suggested in the text; the symbolic code organizes semantic meanings into broader themes through opposing ideas; and the cultural code considers the audience's cultural and moral knowledge when interpreting a story.
2. Born 12th November 1915, Barthes was a French
literary theorist, philosopher, critic and
semitocian.
Barthes suggested there will be one or more of
his “5 codes” that describe the meaning of a
text.
He said the stories may be open or closed.
3. In simple terms...
He suggested texts were like tangled balls of
thread that need to be unraveled.
Once unraveled we as the audience encounter
an absolute wide range of potential meanings.
The audience may start by looking at the
narrative from one point of view or experience,
but as the narrative unravels they look at it from
an entirely different meaning.
4. THE 5 CODES
Hermeneutic Code (HER)
This is the way a story avoids telling the ‘truth’
or revealing all facts in order to create ‘clues’
throughout to solves the mystery.
5. THE 5 CODES
The Enigma/Proairetic Code (ACT)
This is the way tension is built up throughout
and how because of this the audience is left
guessing what will happen next.
6. THE 5 CODES
The Semantic Code (SEM)
This points to any element in a text that
suggests particular meaning by way of
connotation (underlying meaning) which the
story suggests.
7. THE 5 CODES
The Symbolic Code (SYM)
Similar to the Semantic Code but on a wider
scale. This organises semantic meanings into
broader and deeper meanings. Normally done
by the use of antithesis, where new meaning
arises out of opposite or conflicting ideas.
8. THE 5 CODES
The Cultural Code (REF)
This looks at the audiences wider knowledge on
culture and morality.
