Film theorists By Divya Sharma

Roland Bartes He said that a narrative text have a deeper meaning to them and you have to unravel them to find that meaning. He came up with these five codes: The Hermeneutic Code (HER) = (the voice of truth) The way a story avoids

telling the truth or revealing all the facts to be able to drop clues for the reader and create mystery

The Enigma/ Proairetic Code (ACT) = (empirical voice) the way tension is built up through the story to leave the audience guessing what will happen next.  

The Semantic Code (SEM) = (the voice of the person) A text that suggest an additional meaning by way of connotation which the story suggests. 

The Symbolic Code (SYM) = (the voice of symbols) similar to semantic but it acts on a wider level. This is typically done in the use of antithesis, where new meaning arises out of opposing and conflict ideas.

The Cultural Code (REF) = (voice of science) Looks at the audiences wider cultural knowledge, morality and ideology

Steven NealeHis theory was about genre and he argued that pleasure is derived from 'repetition and difference, there would be no pleasure without difference. We may derive pleasure from observing how the conventions of the genre are manipulated. We may also enjoy the stretching of a genre in new directions and the consequent shifting of our expectations.Hollywood’s generic regime performs two inter-related functions: To guarantee meanings and pleasures for audiences To offset the considerable economic risks of industrial film

production by providing cognitive collateral against innovation and difference.

Levi Strauss He believed that the way we understand certain words depends not so much on any meaning they themselves directly contain, but much more by our understanding of the difference between the word and its 'opposite' or, as he called it 'binary opposites'.Examples: Young vs Old Villain vs Hero Good vs Bad

Tzventan Todorov Todorovs said that all narrative include contain five fundamental stages which are: A state of equilibrium (all as it should be, the norm) A disruption caused by an event A recognition that the disruption has occurred An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption A return or restoration of a new equilibrium

Vladmir ProppsPropp’s said that in very narrative there are always certain people that play certain roles. These roles can be: hero villain heroine side kick donor mentor father

These theories when applied to the genre of Horror

Roland BartesIf applied to this genre it would use the Enigma/Proairetic code as horror films are all about tension building and without it a horror piece would not have the same effect.Steven Neale His theory would apply to this genre as I would have to include the conventions that are recognized by my audience and be able to manipulate them in a way that my audience will get pleasure from it. But also the audience might enjoy and get pleasure from seeing the genre being stretched out of its comfort zone.

Levi strauss Applying his theory to this genre and the binary opposites would be Evil against good or supernatural against humans.Tzentan Todorov If applied to this genre : Starting a with a normal night in with both couples Their friends show up who are linked with the events that will start

to occur The main guy is becoming distant and seems slightly off to the

main girl and the friends. The guy kills off the fiends which helps makes him feel better The end is happy for the main guy as his duty of killing is now

complete.

Vladmir Propps Applied to this genre the people who will play these roles would be: Heroine = main female actor Villain= the main male actor and the evil figure Side kick= friend Donor= the figureTypically in horrors there normally isn't some type of hero depending on how the story lie will ned and typically no one wins expect the villain and there are not many roles that are included in the genre.