Media Language: Mise-en-scene

 Mise-en-scene is a vital aspect of media language and builds nicely on our work on denotation and connotation.

Mise-en-scène is a French term meaning ‘Putting on Stage’. It refers to the Media language used by the producer in their media product to communicate with their audience so…everything we see on screen. We can remember what this includes using the acronym CLAMPS:

• Costume
• Lighting
• Actor placement and movement
• Make-up
• Props
• Setting

When we look at a clip, image or advert in Media Studies we need to be able to identify aspects of mise-en-scene and explain the effect it has on the audience.

This video explains the power of mise-en-scene in film analysis: 

Mise-en-scene: Blog tasks

Watch the opening of television drama ‘Stranger Things’, a science fiction story set in the 1980s when four friends get wrapped up in a dangerous alternate universe.



Create a new blogpost called 'Mise-en-scene: Stranger Things analysis'. 

1) Choose THREE aspects of mise-en-scene (e.g. costume, lighting and setting) and write a short paragraph for each about the denotation and connotation and what is communicated to the audience.

For example: 

Costume: The character at the start is wearing a white lab coat. This suggests to the audience that he is a scientist or doctor and that he is very smart. The kids that were in the basement were wearing casual clothes which could suggest that they weren't expecting anything and that they were just there to have a fun time. Also the boys sister was wearing pyjamas and this shows that it is night-time. 

   

Setting: it started of in a laboratory which could mean that something went wrong with the science in the area. also the kids were playing a game in the basement which could mean that it is a dark atmosphere. They were also in a dark neighbourhood at night which could suggest that the neighbourhood is haunted or there are spirts that live in the neighbourhood. Then the kid went the a shed in his garden which could suggest that he is scared and wants to hide in a small tiny placer from the  monster.    

Props: in the house the dad was using a old tv which shows that its set in the olden times because off the way the tv looks and all the technology around it in the rest of the house. The kids also use their bikes to  get home which shows that there might not be that many cars or it is hard to drive and could suggest that they are way to young to drive a car. The kid also grabs a gun when the monster is chasing him which shows that they are in America because it is very easy to get a gun in America and teach your child how how use one.

Actor placement/movement/expression: 

Extension tasks

Watch the extract again. Try and write an analysis of the other aspects of mise-en-scene. Work through all the aspects of CLAMPS (the mnemonic we use to remember mise-en-scene).

Now think about the clip more generally. What does this opening sequence suggest the series will be about in terms of narrative, character and genre? What is it that tells you this?