Friday, October 5, 2012

Homework 4 (DYM) Roland Barthes' Five Codes

I have used the 5 codes to analyse the opening scene of the 2009 feature film "The Time Traveler's Wife". This film is based on the book by Audrey Niffenegger; it is one of my favourite films because I think it is extremely emotive and has done the book justice. 





Enigma codes
  • ·         Why is Henry disappearing?
  • ·         How did he disappear/ get out of the car?
  • ·         Why is he naked?
  • ·         Who is the man and how does he know what happened?
  • ·         Why has he turned up at this time/place?

Action codes
  • ·         Snowing – icy roads
  • ·         Icy roads (exaggerated in shots) – skidding cars and crashes
  • ·         Car crash – death of mother
  • ·         Time travel from car crash – Henry will time travel in the future
  • ·  Disappear from car – reappear somewhere else


Semiotic Codes

  • The time travel aspect suggests a science-fiction premise
  • The mother's constant gaze in the mirror connotes love and caring for Henry

Cultural codes

  • The presence of Santa Claus and snow and the general style tell us that it is Christmas eve

Symbolic codes 

  • Young and old
  • Self development and reflection
  • Fragility of life

1 comment:

  1. Very good work so far, Ella. Your analysis is of a very high standard and clearly shows your understanding of the theory studied in class. Well done.

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