Roland Barthes
- Suggests narrative works with five different codes which activate the reader to make sense of it
- Action Code – This code builds tension as it refers to another action or event and indicates something else is going to happen, e.g a shoot out
- Enigma – a narrative device that teases the audience by presenting a puzzle or riddle to be solved. Works to delay the story’s ending pleasurably
- Symbolic – Similar to the semantic code, however acts at a wider level through creating broader, deeper sets of meaning
- Semantic – The connotation within the story that gives additional meaning through mise-en-scene, eg costume.
- Cultural – a narrative device which the audience can recognise as being part of a culture e.g a ‘made man’ in a gangster film is part of the mafia culture
Roland Barthes applied to our trailer:
Action:
Action:
- Becki is kidnapped.
- Becki does not try to forcefully escape, this suggests to the audience that she knows who the kidnapper is, but this is not confirmed and so creates enigma as to whether she knows her kidnapper or not, making the audience want to watch the film to find out true answer.
- The trailer ends of Becki running frantically in hope to escape. It is uncertain whether or not she manages to escape, creating enigma as audiences wonder if she does in fact escape.
- A Landrover is used, this is associated with the countryside and therefore gives the additional meaning of the location being in a rural area.
- Mother in the kitchen, warning her daughter about her concern of an odd car outside her house, but she still goes on a dog walk, suggests she feels safe and is a semantic message to audiences, suggesting she lives in a safe area.
- Golden Retriever is a dog breed often associated with families
- The car is white , which symbolises Becki's innocence and vulnerability.
- Becki is wering wrapped jeans, symbolises modern teenager fashion which attracts our target audience of teenagers
- She conforms to female stereotypes, fulfilling the 'mother' role of being caring and concerned abut her daughter's disappearance. This is also symbolic of Laura Mulvey's male gaze theory, as she is viewed from the male's perspective in fulfilling the mother and wife role. She also symbolises protection and care.
- Golden Retriever's being associated with families is symbolic of the theme within the film of strong love between the family.
- The Land Rover being associated with rural areas, and the location choice of woodland and open fields, is stereotypical of the culture of Britain and the English countryside.