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 film or TV show.

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
Décor refers to the
decoration or
decorative styles,
comprising mainly of
the set and props used
in a TV Drama. As
Media students we
need to work out how
aspects of the décor
creating meanings, and
provoking thoughts.

Lighting
Unarguably one of the elements that
has the greatest power to evoke
emotions is lighting. High Key Lighting
Everything 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.

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

Location
The set or location of any filmed drama is created to give meaning to
the text. A documentary will also attempt to film contributors in
locations that are relevant to the story or meaning of 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.

Body Language
 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

Semiotic Analysis
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.

Close Analysis
Watch the following sequences and make notes on what meanings can
be derived from aspects of the Mise-en-Scene, in particular regarding
characterisation. Be prepared to share your ideas with the rest of the
class.
You must consider;
 Location
 Body Language
 Costume & Props
 Lighting
 Decor
Casual Vacancy Episode 1 Opening

Mise-en-Scene

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