Applying Barthes Theory to 'Phonebooth'

Barthes proposed his theory on narrative structure saying that a text would run through. These were the Action, Semantic, Enigma, Referential and Symbolic codes.
Action Code - depicts the events that take place in the narrative.
- We find out that it's set in New York, and we can see the environment the main character's in with the busy streets and the noise of everyone talking, with the establishing shots of all over new York city. The tall sky scrapers and billboard avdertisements shows it is a very modern film, contemporary, which is emphasised with the shots of everyone on a mobile. The narrator introduces us to the setting and then the main character Stu, and then we start to discover more about him through they way he is in the film.
Semantic Code - Refers to character and characterisation. The actions in the story are explained by the character's viewpoint of the events.
- The first person we are introduced to is Stu. You can see he's a middle aged man, he wears a good suit and is first seen on the phone. From this point we learn important things about him and the important factors in the film; his way of talking to his assistant and on the phone is confident and arrogant, so you get an insight into his personality. He wears a flash suit with sunglasses becuase he likes to look good, and has his assisstant follow him around making him feel inferior to Stu.
Enigma Code - involves the setting up of a mystery, its development and its resolution.
- We wonder what link the phonebooth has to Stu in the film, esp as we see him first talking on his own mobile phone in a modern world, and so we wonder how the phonebooth comes into the film. Once he enters the phonebooth, the mystery is of who is calling him and why. The voice to no name and no face adds to the tension and mystery of the situation.
Referential Code - involves explaining or informing.
- The narrator at the start of the film acts as a more literal informer, introducing us to the location and the character which bring the audience straight into the film. The number of people on phones at the start shows that it is going to play a big part in the film, and the busy streets packed with all sorts of people shows how anything could happen, and on such a busy day it could happen to anyone.
Symbolic Code - involves the reading of connotations of signs which transforms them into symbolic representations.
- Stu symbolises over-confidence and arrogance, and how it can lead to trouble. At the start he gets away with losing a customer by promising them business, and then takes off his wedding ring to talk to his girlfriend tro escape from the guilt of cheating. This makes you think the film is about this coming back to haunt him, and about him getting punished for this.