Research and Planning: Narrative Theories

Roland Barthes created a theory about narrative codes. A code is combinations of technical features that are meant to have a specific meaning. The first code is the Hermeneutic Code, this is when any element of the story is not fully explained and therefore leaves the viewer guessing and therefore intrigued, until the final scenes where all is revealed and closure is achieved. For example, in Dexter the use of close ups and making normal actions seem odd and set up mystery. This makes the audience ask questions like who is this man? and why are we following him? The second theory is called the Proairetic Code which builds tension and refers to any action or event that suggests something else is going to happen and therefore getting the viewer to guess what is going to happen next. For example, in Dexter the use of close ups, non-diegetic music and the blood dripping in a sinister way suggests that something unpleasant is eventually going to happen. The third code is called the Semantic code, this refers to the way images and/or music might be used to mean something else than the thing is shows. For example, the close ups give each action and alternative meaning, the images could be seen as something else is filmed differently.

Levi-Strauss introduced the theory of binary oppositions as a way to consider the meaning within the narrative. He said that the elements in a story are paired. For every element which represents something there is another one with the opposite or different representation. Some examples of popular binary oppositions are good vs evil, rich vs poor, hero vs villain. In Dexter, the binary opposition is Dexter's life vs ordinary life. We see Dexter performing everyday tasks however the way they are filmed give an insight into how he sees the world. It is quite dark and aggressive and suggests violence constantly.