Roland Barthes' Theories

ROLAND BARTHES'
Enigma & Action Codes

Enigma Codes

Enigma codes pose questions to the audience which are then answered shortly after or later on in the film. For example, who is she? Where is she going? Why is she doing that? They're questions enabling the audience to get intrigued with the film and wanting to find out the answers to these questions, therefore watching more of it. Enigma codes entice the audience to watch the rest of the film as they're curious as to what will happen next; they also help to move on the narrative.

Action Codes

Action codes are significant events which move the narrative on in a particular direction. For example, a phone ringing or a knock at the door. Both actions are used to change the scene/narrative for specific reason but to also keep the narrative alive. They teach the audience new things, for example, something new about a character or possibly the plot itself. They give the audience needed information.

Silence of The Lambs:

The use of enigma codes:

The opening of this movie features a woman running through some sort of misty woods, this makes you question yourself: who is she? why is she running? As she runs on, you then see her climb over part of an assault course which then answers one of the questions for you. You then see an FBI agent tell her that Mr Crawford wants to see her. You then ask yourself: who is Mr Crawford and what does he want? As she makes her way to see Mr Crawford, just before she passes through a lot of other agents and weapons, she walks past another women who high five's her, she says 'Hey Clarice'; this then gives the female a name as well as a personal link to her. This then makes you realise that she must also be an FBI agent. But you ask yourself: why are most of all the other agents male? She enters the office which shows a wall full of newspaper cuttings and other pieces of information, this makes you question yourself as to what the importance of the images/cuttings are, the scene ends a few seconds after.

The use of action codes:

When an agent asks the woman to see Mr Crawford, this is an action code. This changes the narrative and the direction of what would of happened. The lift scene could also be seen as an action code as it represents some of her characteristics of being a strong, independent women as she's in a lift full of men. If she had taken the stairs, things would've also been different; she may have missed Mr Crawford and we wouldn't have found out what he wanted. When she enters the lift full of other men, they're all wearing bold red uniforms where as she's wearing a pale blue uniform, there is also a huge difference in height. This emphasises the fact that she's an individual and that she stands out from the rest of the agents. Another action code used is the behavioural services sign as this reveals more about her location.