Roland Barthes’ 5 Narrative Codes

Roland Barthes stated that there are 5 different types of narrative codes that are common to all media texts. A code is an aspect that can derive meanings to the audience. 

The 5 different narrative codes are:

Hermeneutic/Enigma Codes (HER): An element of the story that is not fully explained which leaves a mystery to the audiences and makes them question the answer.

Proairetic Codes (ACT): Any action or event that suggests that something else is going to happen after and makes the audiences guess what is going to occur next.

Semantic Codes (SEM): The connotation within the story that gives a further meaning beyond the denotation.

Symbolic Codes (SYM): A deeper meaning that can be conveyed in a text. A visual metaphor that is usually used to symbolize opposition (a result of binary opposites)

Cultural Codes (REF): A specific shared understanding of a knowledge by a culture/society/social group that makes meaning in a text.

Case Study - Twenty Five Twenty One (2022)

EP. 1 SPOILER ALERT!!

Hermeneutic/Enigma Codes (HER) - In the episode, Heedo was seen chatting with an anonymous online friend with the username 'Injeolmi' on her PC. This leaves a mystery and makes the audience question who is the person behind 'Injeolmi'? Are they a good person? Will Heedo meet them in real life in the future? These codes drives audiences to watch more to find out the answer.

Proairetic Codes (ACT) - In another scene, there is a shot of a group of people fighting and an extreme close up shot of Heedo grabbing the umbrella is shown right after. These actions suggests a following action that she is going to join the fight using the umbrella as her weapon.

Semantic Codes (SEM) - This scene took place in the 1990s and people are a lot more conservative back then, so her heavy make up, denim clothing, earrings and high heels connotes being rebellious, delinquent-like and the lack of innocence.

Symbolic Codes (SYM) - In this scene, a shot of Heedo peeking into the gym watching Ko Yurim, her fencing role model, training is shown and she is clearly separated from Yurim by the window which draws a line between them and connotes that they are completely in different worlds. Yurim is a well-known professional fencer, while Heedo is just a normal high school fencer who isn't known and experienced enough. This is also shown by the next scene in which Heedo was watching Yurim winning a gold medal on the TV screen which really shows the contrast between the two characters' career in fencing.

Cultural Codes (REF) - In this shot, several people can be seen holding white Chrysanthemums flowers which in the Korean culture, it carries a symbolic meaning of mourning and grief