Barthes Narrative Codes

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

1. Identify the key actions within the opening - what kinds of actions are included and how is the narrative moved forward?

·         middle aged/old man arrives at a house in the middle of nowhere

·         he is a medical examiner

·         a priest exits and a police officer lets the examiner into a bedroom, closing the door behind them

·         Examiner tells everyone that a girl – ‘Emily Rose’ – may not have died of natural causes.

·         The priest thinks he sees something outside.

·         The priest is then arrested.

2.  Identify the enigma codes within the opening - what kinds of questions are posed and how is the audience meant to read these codes?

1.       The house is in the middle of nowhere

2.       The man is a medical examiner

3.       A priest and police officer are present

4.       A girl has died – maybe of unnatural causes

5.       The priest thinks he sees something outside

1.       Connotes – loneliness, isolation, danger, lack of resources,

2.       Connotes – an accident has happened e.g. a death, something serious

3.       Connotes – illegal actions; murder? Support was needed, reference to the church – how are they involved?

4.       Connotes – murder, supernatural activity,

5.       Connotes – supernatural forces, murderer still there? Something is being hidden

3.  Identify key characters and think about what they represent in the opening

·         Medical examiner – represents something wrong with situation – illegal behaviour – murderer

·         Woman – anonymous character – lack of information – representative of public?

·         Priest – represents church – with officer – corruption within church?

·         Officer – representative of law as a whole, law will be involved in plot

4. Interpret the cultural codes in the opening.  What kind of knowledge is being drawn on? ; Social/historical/political/art and culture etc.  Highlight the 3 most important references in the opening that help with audience understanding.

People widely understand that isolation increases risks, so the setting is based on this conception to portray the theme. The snow adds to the ambiguity, and snow is associated with the cold and potential accidents.

The characters all act very quiet, unsure and upset, which shows that something has gone terribly wrong. This portrayal of emotion is therefore the knowledge that the audience will draw upon to decide upon the mood and genre of the film.

The use of the priest will show a link to Christianity – this will be understood as to being a portrayal of normality – Christianity being common for many people in suburban America’s lives.

6. Identify key themes and analyse how they are presented visually/technically.

Key themes:

The supernatural – the moment the priest thinks he sees something outside but then it disappears, the medical examiner’s indication towards an unnatural death

Horror – the setting: bleak, isolated, winter; the death of a character; the lack of communication and noise; the soundtrack of screaming and foreboding music with the credits

Hidden truths – unsure of what the priest sees outside the window, not allowed to see into the bedroom