Naomi Nuamah : AS Media Studies Blog: Media Theories

There are many ideas and suspicions circulating media. The following theories are justifiable as they all show general principles upon the media they have based their idea upon.

Enigma Code

Firstly, the Enigma Code is a text that is read and understood in different ways, there is always more than a single way to read a text. Bathes believes that you should not take a storyline or plot the way that it is. You should find a deeper meaning to understand the text in a way you understand it. The Enigma code allows the audience to be more involved and drawn in to a story. To be indulged enough to question a plot in different ways, there is always more than a single way to read a text.

The Hermeneutic Code

This code is the story of which starts off with the audience being kept in the dark of what is going to happen. This keeps the audience in suspense and questioning.

The Proairetic Code

This code can also relate to the previous code. This also build suspense and may leave the reader wondering what will happen next.

The Sematic Code

This refers to the story using connotations to keep the readers guessing if there are other meanings to the original storyline.

The Symbolic Code

This code reflects the sematic code as the symbolic code also has a wider meaning of a textual idea.

The Cultural Code

It is a recognisable theory that cannot be challenged as it is the only truth and foundation of the text.

Binary Opposites

Claude Levi-Strauss believed that the understanding of certain words is not just of the word itself, but the difference between the word and it's opposite. For example 'good' is opposite to 'bad'. In films it can refer to the opposite of a villain which is the hero, the human and the supernatural. Over recent years plots of films have become more complex. An example of a supernatural binary opposite is Harry Potter. Harry is seen to be the good guy and his enemy, Voldemort is the bad guy. Throughout the franchise Harry is the inonnocent vs the corrupt Voldemort - another opposite portrayed by these characters.

Laura Mulvey's The Male Gaze

This theory takes a feminist approach to cinema. The theory was that women are viewed as sexual objects of male desire. In a film the camera can act as a heteosexual male who we are put into the point of view of. The camera will highlight the women's curves of her figure. Films project a patriarchal society, where phallocentrism is regularly shown - phallus symbols give the reflection of male power and dominance.

The following are NARRATIVE theories.

Todorov's Narrative Theory

In 1939 Todorov created a theory that could relate to any film. He believed that all movies followed the same narrative pattern in five stages, these are:

1). There is a state of equilibrium at the beginning
2). A disruption of that state by an action
3). A recognition that the disorder has occurred
4). An attempt to repair the destruction the disruption had made
5). A return of restoration of a new equilibrium

As this theory can be used with any film, here is an example of an action thriller, The Maze Runner. (Contains Spoilers)
1). State of equilibrium - There is a community of young boys in a field ( "The Glade") where they fend for themselves. They are contempt and used to their routine.
2). A disruption - This is then interrupted by a newcomer called Thomas, who decides to do things differently by going into the forbidden maze
3).A recognition the disorder has occurred - The boys realize Thomas is different and does things in a way he think will help them get out of captivity
4). Attempt to repair the destruction the disruption made - They fight off the Grievers, Thomas let out unintentionally
5). A new equilibrium - The boys and girl get out of the maze to be saved by a team of officials, that take them away from the dangerous place they once lived in to take them to a new place

Classic Hollywood Narratives

It is structured in an unambiguous formation - the beginning, middle and end. There is generally a distinct resolution at the end. There's a three act structure which shows an obvious format which we are familiar with.