Roland Barthes put forward the idea that texts communicate their
meanings through a process of signification. Furthermore, he suggested that signs can function at the level of denotation, which involves the ‘literal’ or straight forward meaning of the sign, and at the level of connotation which involves the meanings associated with or suggested by the sign. His third point outlined the idea that constructed meanings can come to seem self-evident, achieving the status of myth through a process of naturalization.
Barthes Codes include:
Action codes:
An action that is caused by previous events which consequently leads to other events.
Enigma codes:
Refers to mysteries within a text, clues may be given but there is no definitive answer.
Semantic codes:
This code refers to connotation within the story that gives additional meaning over the basic denotative meaning of the word.
Symbolic codes:
This is very similar to the semantic code, but acts as a wider level, organizing semantic meanings into broader and deeper sets of meaning.
Referential codes:
Refers to anything that is outside of the specific media text.
Jurassic World:
In this part of the trailer, we can see a symbolic code which could perhaps also be a referential code. The Jurassic World doors opening is symbolic as it shows what the whole film is about: Jurassic World acts as a sequel to Jurassic Park. While it may not be a traditional sequel it some respects, the nod the Jurassic Park with the iconic doors opening ties the two together.
This scene could act both as an action and enigma code, as the audience don't know why the character is holding a flare. However this can be an action code as previous events have led up to this event, and we can assume some form of action will take place after this.
This part of the trailer acts as an enigma code, as we aren't given context as to why there is a shark being lowered over a tank of water. While we can make the assumption why the shark is here, the lingering on this shot builds up tension.
This scene acts as referential code- fans of the original Jurassic Park series will see this helmet and understand that it is a reference to the Jurassic Park films and the previous workers from the makeshift Jurassic Park world.
This scene is a semantic code as it gives further meaning and allows us to fill in the gaps in relation to the origins the dinosaurs being genetically modified.
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