Media Theorists

Media Theorists

There are many different theories about construction of the media, the three main ones that are narrative theories are: Todorov's theory "Todorov's Narrative Theory", Barthes theory "Enigma Code Theory" and Levi's theory "Strauss Binary Opposites Theory" These are the three theories that i will be focusing on in this blog post.

Barthes: Enigma Code theory

The enigma code theory consists of 5 different codes:

• The Hermeneutic Code (HER)
• The Enigma/ Proairetic Code (ACT)
• The Symbolic Code (SYM)
• The Cultural Code (REF)
• The Semantic Code (SEM)

The Hermeneutic Code (HER) is the way the story avoids being honest and instead of being straight forward rather drops clues to hint at the truth throughout the movie to create more mystery.

The Enigma/ Proairetic Code (ACT) is the way the tension is built up making the audience guessing what will happen next
 
The Symbolic Code (SYM)  
 is similar to the semantic code, but at a deeper level. This code organizes meanings into deeper and broader groups of meanings. 

The Cultural Code (REF) 
looks at the audiences wider cultural knowledge, morality and ideology

The Semantic Code (SEM) is what points to any element in a text that is ambiguous. This allows people to have different ideas about how the story will go.

Levi Strauss: Binary oppositesStrauss believed that when we think of something our brains also think of the opposite. These two things were called binary opposites. Most of the films consist of a positive (good) guy fighting the negative (bad) person, or the hero trying to ruin the bad plans of the villain. Any characters who are opposite can be called binary opposites. 

A few examples of binary opposites in films could be:

Harry Potter and Voldemort (Harry potter)
Frodo Baggins and Sauron (Lord Of The Rings)
Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader (Original Star Wars)
Gandalf and Saruman (Lord Of The Rings)

Todorov's Narrative Theory 1969

Todorov believed that all films follow the same narrative pattern, through 5 different stages.

Stage 1: A state of equilibrium

In this stage everything is as it should be. We are shown what the life of the characters was like before anything happened. Their day to day lifes usually free of problems and happy.

Stage 2: A disruption of that order by an event

In this stage the peace that we see in stage 1 is disrupted by something. There is more action introduced into the film and we are exposed to the problems that occur due to an event.

Stage 3: A recognition that the disorder has occured

In this stage the characters are made aware that the disruption happened and are forced to face the consequences of the event.

Stage 4: An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption

In this stage the main character attempts to confront whatever consequences he is being faced with caused by the disruption. He/she has to overcome the things that try to stop him/her from achieving the equilibrium once again.

Stage 5: A return or restoration of a new equilibrium

In this stage while we are in fact back to an equilibrium state and things go back to being fine, nothing is the same as it was in stage 1. There is always something different about the new found peace.


The male gaze theory 

This theory states that we see the movie through the eyes of a man. What I mean by this is that we see the women viewed as objects of male erotic desire. When we are presented with a woman, the camera follows the gaze of the man to reveal the attributes of her figure.

While most feminists are opposed to the cinema portraying women in this way and objectifying them, I don't see a big problem with it as it brings the majority of the audience what they want to see and more of men are likely to watch it. This is the point of the industry, you want to get as many people to watch the film.

The men are presented as more active and are usually the heroes while the women are more passive and are there to accompany the hero while he is on a mission. The audience is forced to identify with the male gaze, since this is the way the movie was recorded and we cant see it in any other way.

The cinema reflects the patriarchal society that we live in today. The films are filled with symbolism linked to phallocentrism. Phallous is a symbol of male power.