Barthes Theory - Applied

To explore Barthes theory in more depth, I have applied it to this video (link below) by You Me At Six - 'Stay With Me'.

http://www.vevo.com/watch/you-me-at-six/stay-with-me/GB1201000069

The first part of Barthes theory to apply are the cardinal functions and catalysers. The cardinal funtions are the main points/events shown through the video. When looking at the Stay With Me video, two of these are:
- the growth of the loved ones
- the burying of the possessions
Two examples of the catalysers, which are just as important, but less obvious are:
- the walking of the characters all towards the same place, interestingly the same place as the band
- the linking between images and lyrics of 'grow' as the character pours the water on top of the buried possessions.

Barthes also suggests in his theory that the sequencing of images is vital to the way the video is interpreted by the audience. For example, in this particular video, we see the blonde man, in his truck, and then the shot through the truck showing the various people walking through the field all in the same direction. This gives the audience the stroyline that the blonde man will be joining them, and also makes them wonder where they're going, all without actually having to physically tell a story.

Another factor of Barthes theory is that there are always codes/conventions. In this video we see can see that they have connected it to love and romance, due to the couples being reunited towards the end, and the love that the first person had shown by holding and burying the possessions of their loved ones. This could also signify loss, before the regrowth of their loved ones.