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 Science dome/room – in context with the genre, more realistic.

Decor White walls , cage(gremlin), stairs

Costume and Make up

Men were wearing suits, females in dresses, victim in all in one. Gremlin make-up(dr)

Figure Expression and Movement

Despair, shock, confusion, scared, disbelief and excitement dr. – movement was forceful/slow. Minimum movement from background

Lighting Day time, very bright

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(crimes often committed within the wood), house

Decor Dated furniture/decorations

Costume and Make up

Police outfits, formal wear, trench coat(very typical in crime)Blood, mud

Figure Expression and Movement

Running/falling. Look of despair, sadness, confusionDisabled, slow/restricted movement and speech East, eth as con

Lighting Dark, lit by torches

Soap - EastendersMeaning produced by these elements. What

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

examples

Setting house(family gathering)

Decor Old fashioned, coincided with the owner of the house as he is elderly fits his time period.

Costume and Make up

Casual clothinghair extensions(typical black convention)

Figure Expression and Movement

Patrick(excited, joyful – Trinidadian accent, drinking rum)Everyone else - intrigued, happyTopic of racism is played on(changes mood from positive to negative)

Lighting Quite dull mood 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

Sherlock

Dr Who

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

Holby City

Shameless

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

Downton Abbey

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?