Cultural code
In Barthes' narrative analysis, the code of cultural reference and intertextuality, where texts activate shared cultural knowledge, conventions, and prior texts, situating narratives within larger cultural systems.
Real World
Kazuo Ishiguro's *Never Let Me Go* activates the cultural code of dystopian fiction, prompting readers to compare it with Huxley and Orwell — the novel gains depth because readers bring that intertextual knowledge to the text.
Exam Focus
When identifying cultural codes, name the specific cultural knowledge activated and explain how it shapes the reader's interpretation of meaning.
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