Film Art an Introduction - Chapter 2

In Chapter two of "Film Art, an Introduction" the idea is meantioned that artwork cues its viewers (readers, watchers, etc) to "perform certain activities." Such as how a novel would cue our minds to imagine a scene. It also says that these cues are "organized into systems" and are not random. Does everyone agree with this? Is each cue (such as scenary, or lighting) in a movie fulfilling a specific purpose? Or does the author, director, or artist put these "cues" out unintentionally?