Homework 4 (DYM)- Roland Barthes' Five Codes

I decided to analyse the opening of the 2010 sci-fi/action film, Inception, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.



Enigma Codes- 
1) Why is he lying on the shore? How did he get there?
2) What is his relationship to the children?
3) Why was he carrying a gun and why does that bother the guards?
4) What is the relevance of the spinning top?
5) Why does everything suddenly start shaking?

Action Codes
1) The first thing Cobb sees when he looks up is the little boy, which suggests he has a relationship with him.
2) The soldier finds a gun in Cobb's back pocket, which carries the connotation that he intends to use it in the future or has already used it- either way, he poses a potential threat.
3) There are several close-ups of the spinning top- for example, when it is first put on the table and again when the man starts to spin it. This shows both the minuteness of the object but also suggests it is a significant prop in the narrative.
4) Cobb suddenly stops eating- perhaps the other man's words have affected him in some way.
5) The bomb blasts spark disaster, although we do not know what caused them. This makes the action more suspenseful.

Semiotic Codes
1) Crashing waves symbolise tranquillity and peace, but the jagged rocks juxtapose this.
2) The children connote innocence and naivety.
3) The gun shown afterwards juxtaposes the innocence of the children, as it suggests potential threat to the peace of the seashore.
4)  Cobb and Arthur are wearing black suits and ties, and their hair is very immaculately styled, which connotes formality and a significant event of some kind.
5) The wine Cobb is holding connotes celebration and class, which is in agreement with his attire.

Cultural Codes
1) The children are building sandcastles on the beach, which is a very typical, enjoyable activity for a family day out.
2) The dark coloured uniform and cap of the guard suggest a military presence. 
3) The Oriental architecture on the hill and interiors establish the setting as a Far Eastern country.
4) Cobb is sitting directly opposite the other man on a large wooden table, which may show that they are on separate sides and there is enmity between them.
5) The seconds ticking away on the watch show the passing of time.

Symbolic Codes
1) Danger is built up by the suspenseful music and also by the significant prop, the gun, shown repeatedly in the first few shots.
2) The way Cobb is spaced within the frame and in relation to the other characters suggests that he has enmity with them but also that he is alone in his fight.
3) The formality of the dinner has a very business-like/corporate feel, which juxtaposes the suggested personal drama of Cobb's relationship to the children on the beach.
4) The bomb blasts and the stampedes that follow symbolise disaster and panic.