• Barthes was a French literary theorist, philosopher,

critic, and semiotician.

• Barthes' ideas explored a diverse range of fields and he

influenced the development of schools of theory

including structuralism, semiotics, social theory,

anthropology and post-structuralism. His theory on

Media-Codes was important to the media in structural

terms.

• The Hermeneutic Code (or Enigma code) refers to any element

of the story that is not fully explained and hence becomes a

mystery to the reader. The full truth is often avoided. The

purpose of the author in this is typically to keep the audience

guessing, arresting the enigma, until the final scenes when all is

revealed and all loose ends are tied off and closure is achieved.

The Hermeneutic and Proairetic Codes work as a pair to develop the story's

tensions and keep the reader interestedENIGMA CODE

ACTION CODE • The Proairetic Code (Action code) also builds tension, referring

to any other action or event that indicates something else is

going to happen, and gets the reader guessing as to what will

happen next.

• Barthes’ theory suggests that by not fully explaining something and

creating a mystery, it keeps the audience guessing about what will

happen. By not explaining certain scenarios, shots and plot lines it

leaves the audience to try and work out what the film is about and

thus would be encouraged to go and see the film.

• Best examples of the enigma code being used in trailers are in horror

trailers. This is because of the “monster” would not be revealed as

this would ruin the element of shock, surprise and mystery about it.