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 On board a spacecraft. Other scenes show a field with missiles planted into the ground.

Decor The spacecraft featured tables and chairs, a higher tier where a control panel/ countdown clock was featured.

Costume and Make up

The costume and make up was very basic for the other characters excluding the ‘Doctor’. The doctors make up was a visual effect to make him seem old and weak. Both the villain and the hero were wearing suits. The other characters were wearing what looked like butlers and maids clothing to show that they were under power by the villain.

Figure Expression and Movement

The villain was very dominant in the way in which he spoke and stood. He spoke with arrogance and anger in his voice to show that he was their leader, he gave demands and orders also. The hero spoke quietly with difficulty, showing his weakness.

Lighting The lighting was very bright and clear, this was powered by the white lighting in the walls and the day light from the windows.

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

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

examples

Setting First scene was in a woods, then the next scene was set inside of a house.

Decor The décor in the woods was trees and leaves. Inside the house, ordinary items that would be expected in a house, for example chairs and coffee tables.

Costume and Make up

The disabled man featured was covered in bruising and blood on his face. The costume of the inspector was very stereotypical in the sense that he was formal and was clean. The costume of the disabled man was very casual.

Figure Expression and Movement

The expressions of the inspector were very clam, as some points a loss of patience could be seen on his face but at no point did he lose it. The disabled man wasn’t very responsive, and when he was it was very limited.

Lighting The woods were very dark and the light was coming from the touch light. The lighting was daylight that came from the windows at outside.

Soap - EastendersMeaning produced by these elements. What

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

examples

Setting Inside a living room.

Decor What can be seen in this clip is a dinning table and chairs, sofas and in the background curtains.

Costume and Make up

The elderly man was wearing an ethical vest, judging from the topic of speech was from Jamaica. The other 4 characters were wearing modern clothing and make up only to suit their characters stereotype.

Figure Expression and Movement

The way in which the elderly man spoke at first was very proudly of his antics, but when questioned on a detail from his past he soon lost his cockiness. The other characters are shown to have an interest in the elderly mans stories.

Lighting

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

From this picture, I can infer that it was set in the 1970’s. The cars look very outdated compared to the car that are manufactured now days. The police woman on the right is seen in a skirt which show that this is old because now days women wear trousers similar to mens police uniforms.

Sherlock

This is set in London, the background shows us that this is from a very recent time, maybe from 2011-2012. The clothing shows that this is very recent, modern fashion clothing.

Dr Who

The costume shows this may have been made between 2008-2009. The ‘Doctor’ is wearing a full suit showing wealth, while the woman standing next to him is wearing a leather jacket showing a stereotype of a less wealthy perso.

Skins

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

This photo represents a upper class status because they all seem to be wearing posh suits and dresses.Rich and famous.

Holby City

Shes a doctor, showing intelligence.No need for money or private education.Nationally this could be set either in america or england because of her uniform.

Shameless

Working class. Living on a deprived London estate.Teenage social group crime.Independence.

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 featured at the font is wearing a suit showing that he is much more formally dressed, showing his role is more important compare to the other men that are more casual.

The women on the left looks more serious and stressed compared to the one on the right who’s dress is more confident.

Downton Abbey

At the ends of the row the girls are dressed in maids outfits showing that they are less important compared to people in the middle that are dressed in formal suits showing their upper class.

Merlin

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?