Codes of Music Videos

Codes:
- equipment used (cameras)
- symbolism, and how it is used to convey the message the artist wants to get across to the audience. For example, a rose can symbolise love in a music video, and connotates things that would be appropriate for a romantic music video about love.

Barthes suggested that the narrative works with 5 different codes, and the enigma code works to keep up the setting up of problems or puzzles for the audience. The enigma code is the code hidden beneath other codes, and the main.

- The Hermeneutic Code
The Hermeneutic Code refers to any element of the story that is not fully explained and hence becomes a mystery to the reader. The full truth is often avoided, or the audience is incomplete answers. The purpose in this is to keep the audience guessing, until the final scenes when all is revealed and all loose ends are tied off.

- The Proairetic Code
The Proairetic Code also builds tension, referring to any other action or event that indicates something else is going to happen, and which hence gets the reader guessing as to what will happen next. The Hermeneutic and Proairetic Codes work as a pair to develop the story's tensions and keep the reader interested. Barthes described them as:

- The Semantic Code
This code refers to connotation within the story that gives additional meaning to the story and the word actually used. This could be used within lyrics. An example is 'Like a Virgin' by Madonna. This is a prime example, and the song I am using as the lyrics can have many different meanings, and it is up to you to choose the one you think is right.