Analysis of Rear Window using Barthes' Theory

Action/ Proairectic Code: He takes a phone call from his boss. This could lead to him doing a job and so the audience wonders what will happen.

The people around him are seemingly important as the director makes sure we see what they are doing e.g. there’s a man shaving across the road, a couple lying on a balcony, a woman doing exercise and school kids walking by. This gives the audience the impression something will happen involving one/ some of these people.

Semantic Code: The man is the main character. It is his view from which we see the film and so we know that the film will involve him and probably something that happens whilst he is in his wheelchair.

Enigma Code: Why did the man stand in front of a car and break his leg, is this important to the story? What is the job the editor wanted him to do that he mentioned over the phone? Why are the nearby people so important? Why does he have so many fashion magazines?

Referential Code: This is set in a city. This gives the audience an idea of the setting and the time period in which the story takes place. The director is Alfred Hitchcock so the audience can expect a film typical of him i.e. usually a crime and a storyline with twists and turns.

Symbolic Code: The cast and wheelchair represents broken leg, meaning he can’t walk. Since it is daytime and he is at home we know that he isn’t working, probably due to him being confined to a wheelchair. All the flats being together tells the audience that the film will most likely all take place here as it is possible to see everything form his position.