Roland Barthes concluded that a text can have multiple meanings and interpretations, like a galaxy of signifiers that can be unravelled in many ways. A text is like a ball of threads with different narrative threads that can be pulled. Barthes identified different narrative codes used in texts, the most common being action codes which help audiences understand what will happen, and enigma codes which create tension by presenting a mystery like "who committed the murder" that drives the narrative and satisfies audiences.

1. {
Roland Barthes
Concluded that a text has many meanings, or is like ‘a galaxy of
signifiers’ which can be interpreted in many ways.
The simile he used suggests that a text is like a ball of threads,
waiting to be unravelled. You can either pull on one obvious
thread or several hence , a text can have many narrative threads/
strands.

2.  Bathes found out a variety of narrative codes, the most
used being action and enigma codes.
 The action codes helps the audience to interpret and
identify what’s about to happen.
 But in terms of CSI: Miami – Horato putting on his
glasses signifies to the audience that the opening titles
are about to begin (action code).
 Horatio’s opening line to each episode is serious in the
context of each episode, but can also be seen as
unintentionally humorous without context and not
understanding the narrative structure of the CSI
franchise.
The Action Code

3.  The enigma is created by the whole ‘who died and how
was he/ she murdered and by whom?’ This is the driving
force of the narrative and is what creates tension and
satisfies audiences demands.
 Combined with action codes, driving the plot forward,
audiences know by convention that by the end of the 1
hour episode, Horatio will have this man..
Other Barthes narrative codes:
 Symbols and signs – identifiers and clues that help the
audience piece together and understand the story.
 Cultural reference – As UK Media Students, CSI is very
different from an episode of the Bill, but programmes like
‘Walking The Dead’ have similar narratives and stock
characters.
The Enigma code

4.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUXWA
EX2jlg
 This film in the hyperlink above is a great
example of how enigmas are used within a
film.
 Throughout the film there is various amount
of clips and shots that picks out information
which makes the audience ask more
questions throughout the film making them
want to watch it more so they find out more
information.
Enigma codes in film
opening