Barthes Theory: Donnie Darko

Roland Barthes Theory focuses around a number of set codes which he proposed are linked together in the production of all kinds of stories. There he postulated that all stories use the same 5 codes and that all genre signifier can be grouped under them to create narrative.

The 5 codes
1. Action code: depicts the events which take place in the narrative - the who, where, when of the story. Action codes are sequential.
2. Semantic code: refers to character and characterisation. The actions in the story are explained by the characters viewpoint on events.
3. Enigma code: involves the setting up of a mystery, its development and resolution.
4. Referential code: involves explaining of information. Mise-en-scene is a referential code.
5. Symbolic code: involves the reading of the connotations of signs which transform them into symbolic representations.


Action Codes:

Main character wakes up in the middle of nowhere
He cycles back to his house
He has dinner with his family which breaks into an argument
At night he sleepwalks out of his house
He sees a creature which tells him how long it is until the end of the world
A plane engine crashes into his house

Engima codes:

Why has the main character woken up in the middle of nowhere?
Why do his family appear to be frustrated with him?
Why has he sleepwalked towards a creature who tells him about the end of the world?
Why is the world ending?
How is he the only one who finds this creature?
How did a plane engine end up in his house?

Symbolic Codes:

The main characters lack of speech represents mystery and his inability to understand what is happening
The plane engine that crashes into the house is microcosm for the destruction of the world that is soon to come

Propp's theory analysis

Finding Nemo is a film telling the story of a fish (Marlin) searching for his lost son (Nemo). Marlin, recently widowed is an overprotective father and struggles to let Nemo out of his sight. Nemo disobeys his dad's orders and wonders into the Great Barrier Reef. As he does so he is captured and taken to a dentist's fish tank. The narrative tells the story of Marlin and his new found friend (Dory) searching for Nemo and also tells the story of Nemo trying to escape the fish tank.

Character Types in the Film:

Hero - Marlin

Villain - Little Girl

Victim - Nemo

Helper - Dory

31 functions of Propp's theory applied to finding Nemo:

No.1: Nemo is taken from home

No.2: Marlin tells Nemo not to leave leave the reef

No.3: Nemo leaves home anyway

No.8: Villain takes Nemo away

No. 11: Marlin leaves in search for Nemo

No.14: Marlin finds Dory (helper)

No.25: Nemo has to swim through the pipe

No. 30: Villain is punished because she loses her fish

Conclusion

Many of the functions in propp's theory apply to this film, however many don't. In my opinion this theory is probably slightly outdated because films nowadays tend to all change narrative theory structure in order to provide a different viewing experience and prevent predictability. As shown in Finding Nemo many of the functions do apply however they are slightly in the wrong order and many also do not apply. I think that no general formula will be able to apply to every film because every film is unique. There will always be elements of difference.

Opening Sequence - Applying Todorov's Theory

The main antagonist is clearly shown in this opening sequence. He is introduced right at the beginning with the name of 'Sauron'. He is shown to be clearly evil in many ways. The narrator introduces him as 'the dark lord' and he is shown surrounded by fire and darkness. The protagonists are only shown towards the end of the opening sequence. The first, 'Bilbo Baggins', is introduced with a name and can been seen as a protagonist due to the innocence of his nature. The second is not introduced with a name but can be seen clearly as a protagonist because of the peace and bliss that surrounds him in the establishing shot. The title of the film is also shown as the first shot of him is shown which indicates it will focus around him.

This opening sequence is not very conventional because it first shows how things will be due to a disruption because it is narrating a past story. The equilibrium is only shown at the very end. The last shot is an establishing shot of a forest area. The protagonist is sitting by a tree and the camera pans round. he is calmly reading and the area is very luscious. Birds are tweeting and everything represents bliss and calm. Another shot shows a CU of the ring. This is significant because it shows that the equlibirum exists when the ring remains untouched. The lighting in this shot is very dark and everything about it looks very gloomy, this perhaps suggests that even in the equlibrium things are definitely not perfect.

The disruption is greatly hinted at throughout the whole opening sequence. The narrator tells a story of evil forces taking over the land due to a ring. This ring is found at the end of the opening sequence so we can assume that the equilibium is broken due to conflict arising again. The audience is made to think that the story the narrator told is bound to repeat itself and there will perhaps be more war.

The heroes journey can only be assumed to be a quest in which the protagonist must restore peace somehow. We can guess that this has something to do with the ring but we can't be sure of deatils or how he will go about doing this. From what we can see in this opening sequence i am guessing that the new restored equilibrium will be exactly as the first (peaceful lands with no war) but with many changed lives. Every hero will have completed a journey which will have perhaps changed their perception on everything. Maybe new alliances will be formed in order to restore this equilibrium but nothing is given away in the opening sequence.