Roland Barthes - Humans ep 1

Barthes ideas illustrate how meaning is constructed through a series of signs which function at a level of denotation and connotation in order to create meaning to a audience. Barthes codes can be applied to the first episode of humans to construct meaning to a audience about characters, genre , plot and help the audience develop their own opinions about the show.

Enigma codes

In the first episode, certain signs cause us as an audience to think and ask questions , causing meaning to be created.

-" is this set in the future or a alternate society?" the audience is encouraged to think and ask this during the scene where Laura is traveling home from London. The audience is shown a society that looks exactly like ours today however with the edition of synths encouraging them to question when the show is set.

-"why does Laura hate synths" we can see from the initial reaction of the oldest child Matlida to Anita being bought that Laura clearly doesn't like synths causing the audience to question why as the rest of society seems happy and integrated with them. Throughout the whole first episode Laura is sceptical and suspicious of Anita and doesn't appear to like how Anita is taking over her role.

-"Why is Anita different" this enigma code is relevant through the entirety of the first episode through the flashbacks and also the subtly hints that Anita gives to suggest she is more than just a synth.

Referential code

There is a constant reference to AI and its threat throughout the first episode which links to a underlying worry for some in modern society aswell. Anyone with previous outside knowledge of Artificial intelligence will be able to pick up on these codes and create a deeper meaning due to this. There are also many links to normal modern day life that a audience would be used to. For example the news presenter used is a real life news presenter in modern day illustrating how the reality in humans could become a reality in modern day life.

Action Code

The flashbacks act as a action code in the first episode as they help to move the plot on and provide answers to the enigma codes. For example they give us more insight into why Anita is different and help us understand how there is a group f modified synth that have human senses that Anita is a part of. Overall creating meaning that moves the plot on.

Symbolic Code

The show is almost used as a warning or a look into what society could be like in the future and how we need to react