SE7EN

Narrative Theory

Hermeneutic Code
Roland Barthes Enigma Codes present 5 Codes. We are focussing on the Hermeneutic Code. The Hermeneutic Code poses questions or enigmas to the audience which provide narrative suspense. In Se7en there are many question posed to the audience throughout the opening sequence.

Regina

Hermeneutic Code
Who do the hands belong to?
The extreme close ups of the hands frequently appearing, lures the audience into questioning who is the person in the opening sequence. This is typical of psychological thrillers.

Why is he cutting the skin off his fingertips?

The music non-diegetic music is quite slow paced to begin with, with a reoccurring pattern of high pitched screeches and noises which are heard while an extreme close up of the cutting off of the skin on the fingertips of an unknown persons hands is seen. The non-diegetic music causes suspense and discomfort, which is common for psychological thriller films. The image is in extreme close up and nothing else is seen on screen, this invading camera shot leads the audience no knowledge of who the person is and why they are cutting the skin off their fingertips.

What are they planning ?

The images of unknown people, pages and pages of writing, dates and someone highlighting certain points. The fast paced editing from scene to scene doesnt leave enough time for the audience to figure out exactly is what is being planned, therefore concealing the whole plot which is definitely common of a psychological thriller film.

Regina

Disequilibrium
The cutting of the skin off his fingers, represents disequilibrium. Removing finger prints shows, some intent to do harm. Also shows a lack of mental stability to inflict self-harm. The fact that the identity of the man is still unknown, also shows that he does not perhaps want his identity to be revealed. Rather than the story starting with a happy day, these actions highlight that there is something not quite right. Being the disequilibrium.
Anthony

Imagery

Obsessive nature is represented through continuously analyzing and editing articles, all articles are on females (some of whom are pregnant). Which suggest the person has an obsession with female characters. Also the removal of the word God in one article shows he doesnt believe in religion, which could link to actions. As his actions arent influenced by any particular faith. Also, the removal of words, and crossing out words, could suggest that what he believes in is right and societies morals and opinions are wrong rather than his own.
Anthony

Sound & Imagery

The black background which it cuts to between clips, represents the theme of unease and perhaps links to the traditional dark theme of death typically associated with thrillers. The titling in the opening credits are fragmented and disordered, which equals less stability (or equilibrium). Resulting in the audience feeling less secure, which reflects the genre of a psychological thriller and adds to a sense of disequilibrium.

In the opening minutes, theres screams. The use of non-diegetic sounds, typifies psychological thrillers by magnifying a sense of disequilibrium. There is an element of maturity behind the music, which signifies it is for an older audience. By using fast paced music, this causes unease and adds to the intensity (and further more adds to the disequilibrium).
Anthony

Non-Linear
No clear structure to scenes- random

For example these three frames (above ^) randomly flicker between each other, leaving the audience unsure about the motive of the maneuvering character or how these scenes relate to each other, which is typical of a psychological horror.

Not in chronological order

< Here we see the characters actions out of chronological order which builds suspense, a feeling typical of the genre, as the audience remains unsure of the building plot. Appears that the audience has come into the film in the middle as we do not know entirely what and why the character is doing what he is doing

The frames continuously cut to close ups of images we have never seen before (as seen left) we know nothing of the boy in the frame or what has caused him to be involved and scribbled out. It could hint any ends of things however due to the audiences ignorance we have no definite answer.

Danny