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 Glass dome(looks very science relating to the genre making it very realisticSpaceship

Decor White walls(modern), gremlin cage, machinery, stairs

Costume and Make up

Suits, dresses, all in one suitGremlin make up (the dr) Dirt on one characters face.

Figure Expression and Movement

Shock, nerves, excitement, scared & disbelif.Little movement by background characters. The DR coming from his cage traveling through the room in the air.

Lighting Very bright, day time setting

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

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

examples

Setting The woods, a old house (a typical convention of crime dramas)

Decor Old looking house, old furniture(gives a mysterious feel)

Costume and Make up

Police uniform, suits, trench coat (very typical in crime dramas)Blood, mud

Figure Expression and Movement

Running, falling, rolling around.Sad, scared, confused Disabled boy- small movements, sitting back in his chair,

Lighting Dark, torches for light

Soap - EastendersMeaning produced by these elements. What

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

examples

Setting House(typical soap setting)Dinner table having a meal.

Decor Slightly old fashioned,

Costume and Make up

Casual, braids(typical black convention)Casual clothes

Figure Expression and Movement

Patrick- joyful, accent(due to his ethnicity) drinking rum(a black stereotype)Talk of racism changes the happy mood & facial expressions to a sadder unhappy uneasy mood.Black people talking about coming into the UK (using there ethnicity as a conversational piece)

Lighting Mood lighting(lamps)Light mainly around the table where the characters are sat.

Historical - TudorsMeaning produced by these elements. What

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

examples

Setting Italy, outside, within the castle.

Decor Very grand, expensive

Costume and Make up

Period clothing, capes, Jewelry

Figure Expression and Movement

Riding horses, walking, falling to deathAnger, pain, hatred

Lighting Very bright, day time, day light

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

• Different police cars to now

• Police woman wearing an old uniform again not worn now

• Police woman wearing a skirt

• Males wearing dated clothes

• Late 70s -80s

Sherlock

NowadaysKey London landmarks in the background.

Modern clothesFashionable coats Modern hair cuts

Dr Who

Modern day clothesModern hair styles

Period background

Skins

NowadaysModern day clothesTeenagersModern hairContemptry

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

Upper classAmericanHigh statusAll in suits and party dressWhite americans

Holby City

Doctor outfit – identified as UK or USA as the outfit and the colour is associated with those countrys.Stereotype she's upper class well educated

Shameless

The girl in red – a chavA small childA teen a trouble making being held by his neck

the background – flats

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

Man in the suit at the front with the powerThe men behind wearing casual clothes, hands in his pockets more relaxed

Downton Abbey

Maids outfits less powerSuits jewelry Those in the center have more power and status then those on the edges. The further away from them middle you are the lower your status.

Merlin

Merlin wearing rag clothesMan in a crownA knightHe females nice clothes jewelry

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?