Narrative codes

In todays lesson we learnt about different theorists ideas and how they can be applied to the media. For example Levi Strauss argued that narratives depended on binary opposites or conflict between the two terms. These can establish who the 'good' and 'bad' characters in a narrative
Examples of binary opposites can be:
Hero vs Villain
Male vs Female
Insecurity vs Insecurity
Good vs Bad


Furthermore, another theorist called Roland Barthes devised five different codes that we can use when analysing media products they are:
Action code
Mystery code or enigma code
The semic code

The cultural code

Code of opposition

These codes help the audience recognise what will happen in a certain film. The action code is what we interpret what will happen next. For example, somebody packing a back we automatically think that they are fleeing or going on holiday.

We also watched a clip from the good, bad and ugly. Using Barthes' theory  we can see straight away hat the action code is in use. For example at the start of the scene we see some western people are directly starring at each other, from this we can infer that their will be a duel to take place.