The document explores how a broken mirror could symbolize deeper meanings using Barthes' five narrative codes. It suggests that a broken mirror could represent a broken or unstable person based on the reflection. Additionally, the broken glass could indicate that the person looking in the mirror sees themselves as "messed up" or unstable. Finally, the broken mirror in an establishing shot could symbolize that a fight or explosion has occurred and create a sense of danger or tension for the audience.

1. Barthes 5 Narrative Codes – A Broken Mirror
Barthes suggested a textual object will have 1 or more of his 5 narrative codes; Hermeneutic,
Proairetic, Semantic, Symbolic and Referential. I will be exploring how a broken mirror could
have hidden, greater meanings using the symbolic code.
Most broken mirrors would be broken by accident as there is a superstition of 7 years bad luck
for breaking one. So naturally a broken mirror could symbolise a mirror which has been
dropped or had something hit it accidently. Although, using Barthes’ theory, the broken shards
of glass now joining like a random jigsaw puzzle could have a deeper meaning to why it is
broken.
Because the glass is reflective, the mirror could represent a reflection or view of a person and
in this case the image we see is of a broken, maybe unstable, person. So the broken mirror
could symbolise how people view the person looking into it as ‘messed up’.
However, using the semantic code now, there may be an additional meaning. Such as the
person looking into the mirror has broken the glass and this is how he or she sees their self.
Maybe suggesting they don’t feel they should look at their self as a normal, stable human
being.
This then implies the ‘broken’ person could be violent as he may have punched the mirror to
break it, indicating he or she isn’t afraid to get hurt, possibly because they are depressed and
don’t feel like they could be hurt more than they currently are.
Or, going back to the symbolic code now, the mirror could be part of an establishing shot
which is used to set the scene. This would give the audience the interpretation that a fight or
an explosion has taken place, possibly used in a film or picture. The sharp points of the shards
of glass imply there is some sort of danger and therefore builds tension and/or a dramatic
effect.