Roland Barthes Theory

Bathes theory suggests that each text and form of media has an obvious intention but also has an underlying intention which we have to dig deeper to find. His theory is often theoretically explained using a ball of thread. He said that a text can either be open (unraveled in a lot of different ways) or it can be closed (only one obvious thread to pull), but in order to unravel the ball you have to dig deep to find the start and you may find other ways whilst unraveling.

Barthes broke his theory down into 5 categories;

1. The Hermeneautic Code- the idea that a story avoids the truth and hides the fact in order to cause mystery and gain the audiences attention.
2. The Enigma/ Proairetic Code- The text includes action to add to tension and suspense. 
3. The Symbolic Code- The text carries different connotations to the initial suggestions- there is a background symbolism or connotation behind the obvious story (you need to unravel more)
4. The Semantic Code- similar to the symbolic code but acts at a wider level, the meanings and connotations are even broader and deeper. Elements of the text suggest or reference a different meaning. The elements of a semantic code are called semes. The seem has an extra layer of meaning as well as its literal meaning. 
5. The Cultural Code- refers to anything in the text referring to external body of knowledge. It looks at audiences wider cultural knowledge, morality and ideology. 

Applying Barthes Theory to music videos:

• Similar to most media theories, not all elements/codes of Barthes theory are relevant to all music video texts. However, modern music videos are becoming more about the visuals and story, therefore many do apply.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVeMiVU77wo

This is the Video for Alt J song 'Breezeblocks'. This is a very clever video as it misleads and keeps the audience hooked at all times. It is the story of who we assume are a couple fighting, yet it starts at the ends and works backwards. The video starts with the woman dead in the bath and it soon becomes obvious that the man has killed her as it shows the story backwards. At the beginning we pin point the man as the villan due to what we have been shown, yet as the story goes on we start to gain an understanding that perhaps it was the woman that is the worse of the two and he was just protecting himself. The audience are left unable to figure out which character is 'good' and another character is added in the end, causing more tension and suspense and leaving the story on a cliff hanger.  This video supports Barthes Theory as it backs up the Hermeneutic code through mystery, the Enigma code through action and suspense and the symbolic code, as the lyrics of the song have been given an entire new meaning due  to the deeper connotations and mystery shown in the video.