Mise en Scene

What is included in the Mise en scene?

Semiotics “The Study of Signs”

Denotation – What you can see (The literal meaning)

Connotation – What it suggests (The implied meaning)

E.g. A red rose Denotation = A flower that is red in

colour Connotation = Love, romance,

valentines day

Task 1

Mise en Scene analysis:

We will be watching 4 clips from different TV drama sub genres. Use the tables on the following slides of this PowerPoint to fill in your notes about the mise en scene in each.

Sci-Fi – Dr WhoMeaning produced by these elements. What

do these suggest about the characters/places. Be specific with your

examples

Setting The setting of the clip was on a spaceship, which suggest that the characters have scientific powers etc.

Decor The décor included many electrical machines, which links back to the sci-fi genre and shows the different conventions

Costume and Make up

Some of the characters were wearing black costumes, which represented their character. For example, the villain wore a plain black suit which resembles his evil character. Also the doctor was wearing his outfit, which is unique to his character.

Figure Expression and Movement

The woman who was kneeling down, her expression was that she is very scared and afraid, as to what will happen to the doctor. However, her expression and movement changes as she overpowers the villain, and shows she is brave and relieved that the doctor will be okay. She talks about the satellites of the earth which links back to the genre. Also the villain has a very evil kind of stance/figure toward the characters, and shows he has got power over them.

Lighting On the spaceship the lighting was very bright, and every character was clearly visible.

Crime – A Touch of FrostMeaning produced by these elements. What

do these suggest about the characters/places. Be specific with your

examples

Setting The clip started off in a the woods, where the police where searching for something/someone, which suggests that it is a crime genre or there has been a crime/incident in the woods. Later in the clip it is located in a house. Which tells us that this house could belong to a victim or witness.

Decor The décor included many things from the woods, for example ditches, leaves and broken trees. Also the house had many typical things you’ll see in a house, for example sofas, old furniture which resembled what the family is like for example the parents of the witness were old

Costume and Make up

The characters wore simple casual clothing. There was make up used for the witness’ face to show cuts, bruises and dirt. Also the detective had a very formal costume on.

Figure Expression and Movement

The expression of the detective showed that he was very suspicious and anxious of the boy. The boy’s expression was that he was very scared. Also the boy had a disability which we can see by the way he talks and moves and his facial expressions.

Lighting The lighting in the woods, it was very dark, which suggest that it was the late evening/night. In the house the lighting was bright and we can see the characters clearly.

Soap - EastendersMeaning produced by these elements. What

do these suggest about the characters/places. Be specific with your

examples

Setting The setting of the clip was in a house in the dining room

Decor The décor was made up of typical things you would see in a house. There was a dining table, with plates, glasses, bottles and food on it, which showed that the family were having a meal together.

Costume and Make up

The costumes of the characters were very casual and they wore simple clothes and each showed the type of character they are. For example the elderly man, was wearing a waistcoat with a simple shirt. This resembled his character and his stereotype that he was from Jamaica.

Figure Expression and Movement

Everyone had a casual figure around the table, as they were sitting down eating a meal. The expressions on their faces showed that they were very happy as they were together. Also from the way the elderly man spoke, we can tell that he is from Jamaica.

Lighting The lighting in the house was pretty bright and we can see the characters clearly.

Historical - TudorsMeaning produced by these elements. What

do these suggest about the characters/places. Be specific with your

examples

Setting

Decor

Costume and Make up

Figure Expression and Movement

Lighting

Costume

Stereotypes

What is a stereotype?

Can you think of any examples?

If you had to design the costume of a youth offender, what would they be wearing?

Countertypes

This is where the representation is purposefully going against the stereotype

How would you dress a gay male as a countertype?

Representations

In your exam you will have to discuss the representation of one of the following things. Keep this in mind as we go through this task.

Gender Age Ethnicity Regional Identity Sexuality Disability/Physical Ability Class and Status

Task 2 – Costume and Representation

You will be shown a series of stills from TV dramas. Answer the questions that are shown before the image.

Do this in quick note form. You will be feeding back your answers to the class.

Does the costume suggest a historical period?

We are going to look at stills from various TV dramas and you have to decide what period of time it represents.

Life on Mars

70s – 80s

Cars look old

Old fashioned police uniforms

Period of time has been represented through the costumes

The clothes and fashion were different then to now

Sherlock

The way the costumes have been represented, it looks like it is set recently

The clothes look like modern fashion

Dr Who

The period of time could be 90s-2000s

The clothing looks like how it would in those times

Skins

The period of time would be recent times

The costumes are all in fashion now

They are relevant to teenagers today

What does the costume represent about the character’s social, cultural and national background?

This time when you are shown stills answer the above question

The OC

They look like a high class family

The costumes show they could have a high social status

Culturally they have a high status in society because of their ethnicity

They got high status because they’ve got money and are upper class

Holby City

From the stereotype, socially we could say she is very intelligent and had a good education as she is a doctor

Her uniform suggest that she is from England or America

Shameless

From some of the costumes we can categorize and tell their social groups. For example we can see on the left there is a teenager. From his costume we can tell his from a teenage social group, who is stereotyped as a troublemaker.

We can see it is a deprived area so it could be set in London, or a small town in America.

From their culture it could suggest that there is violence, and crime etc.

What does the costume indicate about the way a character feels, their fortune or status?

This time when you are shown stills answer the above question

Spooks

The man at the front has a more formal suit compared to the other two guys at the back who are dressed casual. What this tells us about the man at the front is that he could be feeling more powerful and has more authority. The guy with his hands on his pocket, could feel relaxed judging from his costume and the way he is standing.

Downton Abbey

The woman on the end of both sides, could feel less powerful and lower status than those in the middle as they are wearing maid outfits, whereas the people in the middle are wearing posh suits.

The man in the middle has a different suit compared to the other guys, which could show his status and power in the family.

Merlin

From the costumes we can see many things

For example we can see the man who has armory clothing. He could have status among society because of his class an job.

Lighting

Task 3

How does the lighting in the scene affect different moods?

Does lighting change? Is it high or low key lighting?

Watch the Spooks Clip on the VLE and discuss as a class.

Figure Expression and Movement

Task 4

Watch Wire in the blood

How does the mise-en-scène affect and reflect the relations between characters?

Consider also the actors performances

Discussion: what thoughts, feelings and emotions are evoked by the actors’ performances?