Narrative

Narrative

In media class recently we learnt all about narrative and how it the retelling of a story. A key figure to do with narrative was a French literary theorist called Roland Bathes. He came up with a set of 5 codes

• Hermeneutic/ Enigma Code
• Proairetic/ Action Code
• Semantic Code
• Symbolic Code
• Referential Code

Hermeneutic/ Enigma code- Mystery within a text. Clues are dropped but no real answers. The audience wants to know more.

Proairetic/ Action code- Refers to the other major structuring principle that builds interest or suspense on the part of a reader or viewer. The proairetic code applies to any action that implies a further narrative action.

Semantic code- Refers to parts within text. Exercises opposites to show contrast, with greater meaning.

Symbolic code- Symbolism within text. Exercises opposites to show contrast with greater meaning.

Referential code- Refers to anything in text which refers to an external body of knowledge such as scientific, historical and cultural knowledge.

 

The movie above is called prestige, it uses a lot of the Hermeneutic/ Enigma code. For example there is a lot of questions that I start to ask myself. Is he going to drown? Why are the hats there? Who is the girl and old man? Are these two events happening at the same time? There is so many questions that you need answers for so are likely to carry on watching.