Mise en scene Ressearch

MEDIA TEXT – product which has been produced by a media institution e.g. films, trailers, T.V programmes, music videos, magazines, radio broadcasts, websites, apps and vlogs.
TEXTUAL ANALYSIS – analysis and deconstruction of media texts to understand the messages they contain.
MISE EN SCÈNE – a French term which means ‘what is the frame?’ or ‘what is in the (camera) shot?’. Mise en Scène helps to construct meaning.
Mise en Scène is very important to all representations by showing:
What a character wears
Where the scene is taking place and how it appears
Props signifying information about characters/situation
Lighting connotes certain meanings about characters/situations they are in

KEY:
ICONOGRAPHY – any logos or signage within a camera shot e.g. police officers badge, Starbucks symbol.
KINESICS – movement of a character within a camera frame as a form of non-verbal communication e.g. gestures, movement of a burglar or Gollum.
PROXEMICS – where a character/s is positioned in a camera shot e.g. men placed higher than women, Vine Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston in The Break-up.
SETTINGS – place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place e.g. castle, dark, country yard.
FACIAL EXPRESSIONS – form of non-verbal communication e.g. tough, firm, angry, soft, plain, blank, upset, fearful.
COSTUME – a set of clothes in a style typical of a certain country, culture, event or historical period e.g. knight in armour, bright patterns, leather jackets and white t-shirts, old rags/robes.
LIGHTING – equipment in a room, building or street used to produce lighting e.g. high-key, natural, dark/low-key, reds and orange hues.
COLOUR – reds and oranges/autumn, blacks and greys/dark, pastels, bright/neon, dull/browns
LOCATION – place or position where the scene takes place or where a character is e.g. busy town, dark throne room.
PROPS – objects used in the scene to create setting/use for character
MAKE-UP – cosmetics used to enhance/alter appearance e.g. lipstick, powder, disguise, tan, contact lenses.
Game of Thrones (clip extract)
Q: How is power represented in both scenes?
A: King Joffrey is more powerful than Paul Henry. You can tell this because King Joffrey is wearing a gold, silk outfit which signifies wealth. Also, he wears a crown which suggests a high status and authority. In contrast, Paul Henry is in ordinary modern-day clothes and is sat in a plane room with little belongings of great value which shows that he is a normal person and lacks any significant power. Additionally, King Joffrey is also sitting on a throne which represents an authoritative figure whereas Paul is sitting on a plain, faded, white bed. Furthermore, King Joffrey has a firm facial expression that demands submission from others in comparison to Paul who has a much softer, gentle expression and a slight smile on his face which confirms that he is friendly, approachable and a well-grounded individual that is not in a position of such power and snobbery as King Joffrey.