Mise –en - Scene

The arrangement of everything that appears in the framing – actors, lighting, décor, props, costume – is called mise-en-scène, a French

term that means “placing on stage.” The frame and camerawork also constitute the mise-en-scène of a movie.

Signs and symbols in media texts are polysemic which means they are open to many interpretations. The different possible meanings in media texts depend on two things. The first is the way the signs and symbols in the text are ‘read’. The second is the cultural background of the person ‘reading’ the text.

Décor refers to the decoration or decorative styles, comprising mainly of the set and props.

As Media students we need to work out how aspects of the décor create meanings and provoke thoughts.What type of person might live in the houses below? What leads you to think this?

Décor

Unarguably one of the elements that has the greatest power to evoke emotions is lighting.

High Key LightingEverything looks bright with little to no shadow at all. High-key lighting has little dramatic effect, and it is often used in a scene with no tension or to attach positive and uplifting connotations to a character or situation.

Low-key lighting Often used in tense scenes or scenes where negative connotations are to be derived. It comprises of a lighting pattern that has both bright and dark areas in the frame.

The obvious purpose of costuming is to dress an actor according to his character. Lawyers wear suits, nurses wear scrubs, and a drifter could wear worn out shoes, ragged shirt, and baggy pants.

But, more than that, costuming can also be used to establish someone’s hierarchic level or attach a stereotype to them. It can also suggest a subculture that they belong too e.g. Indie kid.

Costuming may also be used to emphasize a personality trait. For instance a women wearing leopard print may be characterized as a predator.

Costume & Props

The set or location of any moving image text or photograph is used to give meaning to the text

For instance, in a soap opera such as Coronation Street, the actual row of terraced houses, the pub, cobbled streets etc. all contributes to the working class feel of the community.

Location

Appearance - how the actor appears in the role - large, small, the right size. Costume and make up can help an actor build a character

Movements – an actor’s movements can enhance the believability of the character, and increase the information the audience is receiving about the character

Gestures – gestures are helpful to creating the character

Facial expressions – important in whether a character is sympathetic or not, and for reading emotions such as love, fear and pain.

Vocal delivery - very important in delivering the lines so that comprehensive meaning is understandable to the audience

Body Language

These are two important words concerned with the way an audience analyses an image, and comes from semiotics the study of signs and symbols.

Denotation is the basic, literal meaning of what is in the picture or scene.

Connotation – means different interpretations suggested or implied by the text,

Semiotic Analysis

Close AnalysisIn groups analyse either the moving image or print text in relation to mise-en-scene and make notes on what meanings can be derived from it. Link your idea back to your knowledge of genre as well as issues of representation. Be prepared to share your ideas with the rest of the class.

You must consider;

• Location

• Body Language

• Costume & Props

• Lighting

• Decor

Texts to choose fromMoving Image

• Vantage Point http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/vantage-point/

• Napoleon Dynamite http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/napoleon-dynamite/

Texts to choose fromPrint

Option 2

Next Lesson

Embed your chosen magazine or film opening into a blog post and write up your group analysis.

Then write a short paragraph that suggests how your findings will influence your own work.