Theorists - Roland Barthes

Action and Enigma Codes:

• Barthes' interest in narrative derived from the concept of the use of visual codes
• Enigma codes are images/sequences that control how much we know in the story, engaging and holding audience interest. They present puzzles which demand to be solved
• Action Codes are those images/sequences that work as a form of visual shorthand making complex ideas immediately apparent and carrying the story forward
• The following are some of the key components of this theory:

Restricted/Unrestricted Narration:

How much information do you release to the audience

Ellipsis:

The compression of time within a film

Casualty:
The 'because' of the story