Stuart Hall's theory is based on the idea that texts are made and are encoded with a message by the institution. The audience are then provided with the text in which they then decode. The message can be decoded and interpreted in three different ways:
- Dominant reading - The message is interpreted by the audience as the institution intended.
- Negotiated reading - The audience may agree with some parts of the text and not others.
- Oppositional reading - The audience find themselves in conflict with the text and disagree with the message.
This theory is used in a short film I have watched called 'Middle Passage'.
In this short film, dominant reading is a way in which the message is interpreted. The message given off to the audience is about how our lives are so much more fortunate than those who must leave their homes and loved ones to immigrant elsewhere due to their country being destroyed by wars. It also gives off the message that we should do more to help these immigrants to prevent them from losing anything else close to them.
Negotiated reading can be a way due to people agreeing with the idea that these innocent people looking for safety should be offered help. However, they may also disagree due to this action meaning they would be going against the law as the are helping immigrants into the country illegally. 
People who interpret the message through oppositional reading would say that immigrants bring trouble into our country and are not welcome as they are bringing more crime into Britain, therefore making British citizens lives more difficult.
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