Symbolism

Specifying Genre

Mise-en-scene

With in media it is important that I am able to understand and accurately interpret media texts. Expanding my knowledge of film langue will help me do this and will also benefit me when it come to film my own media products. One part of film langue that I have recently studied is the use of Mise-en-scene. Mise-en-scene is the visuals that make up the frame, it includes everything that is shown on the screen including background and foreground.
One area the Mise-en-scene covers are costumes, this includes hair and make up as well as the outfits that the character is wearing. costume is a good way to show what time period the text is set in and it can also outline what sort of status the character may have. For example if a female character was wearing an smart and expensive dress with neat hair it would add to her authority and make her seem more important.

Lighting is also a part of Mise-en-scene. Having a dark setting will have a different effect on the audience when compared to a bright setting, light also refers to how characters with in the scene are lit. For example is a character was shown in the shadows it may be referring to certain aspects of the personality such as non trustworthy or that they have something to hide. When compare the dark washed out colouring and the bright vibrant lighting of the two images they are able to create very different feelings and tones.
Another area of Mise-en-scene is actors, this are includes how the actors are positioned and how they used there facial expressions with in a scene. All of this will help to build their character and showcase them to the audience. Body language is a good way to identify relationships and how the character is truly feeling and this may help the audience identify key information. A example of body language is shown is the screen shot from 'What Happens in Vegas' for it you can clearly see that there is some tension between the two characters shown.

'Children of Men'

Props also play a part amongst Mise-en-scene as certain props have certain connotations. For example a character holding a bunch of flowers would give a different message to the audience when compared to if the character was holding a gun.

'What Happens is Vegas'

                                                                            Setting is also relevant within Mise-en-scene as it as able to provide the audience with information of where the text is set. The setting will also have different connotations depending where it is. For example the screen shot from 'Children of Men' shows run down city which helps add to the dystopian tone of the whole film.










Overall the use of Mise-en-scene is very important in media as each aspect of t it is able give the scene meaning and influence the audiences feelings. Effective Mise-en-scene is able to communicate key details to the audience about what is happening, this can be done subtlety or it can be more obvious.

Short Clip - Camera shot analysis

In Class today we watched a clip from 'King Arthur' we looked different camera shots and analysed why they were put in and the effect they had on the narrative of the story. This clip had a many different camera shots such as establishing shots to help identify the setting and show the icy ground which played a big part in the scene. There were close ups so the audience could get a feel for the characters emotion as well as know who the main characters were. Watching this clip helped us to know what to look for during a scene in relation to camera shots. After we watched this clip we were asked to choose a clip of our own and analyse the different camera shots used.

I decided to choose a clip from Insidious. With in the clip there wasn't a wide range a shots used but the camera shots used made a creepy and uneasy scene and created a good narrative to a uncertain situation and as a horror film the shots are there to draw you in.

The first shot I decided to look at was a medium shot which helped to establish his surroundings and the type of environment he was in. It showed the smiling family in a typical family scenario, also it showed that Josh (the male character) was curious and weary of the family. As Josh becomes more intrigued the camera shot changes into a medium close up as he inspects one of the family members.The close ups are prolonged which helps to build the tension as the audience is expecting something to happen but the girl stays motion less. There is another close up where he inspects the mother figure and the and this close up gives you a good view of Josh's expression which helps you get a feel for what Josh is thinking and although he doesn't look scared as such his confusion is well translate to the audience. Further in after Josh hears the gunshots there is a close up of the doll like girl this shows her deranged look and makes the scene feel even more uneasy than it already was. Close to the end on the clip there is a reverse angle shot which begins show Josh looking around and then we see him looked horrified really for the first time during the scene, the camera then switches allowing us to see what he has scene and the family are right there behind him.

From this task I began gaining skill in how to analyse film language and regognise effects that certain shots will have the audience. These skills will help me when I start to plan and film my own media products. 

Get Carter car park scene

During my lesson today I was introduced to the short scene from 'Get Carter' I had not seen the film so it was a good opportunity to practice my analyses and interpretation.
At the start of the clip we are introduced into three male characters and instantly we are aware of who is the main character is in comparison to the other two. The two men on the right are in the background and are wearing suits of the same colour. The man on the left seems isolated and closer to the audience and although he is wearing a similar suite it is different in colour which makes him stand out and could suggest importance. We soon find out that the male in the grey suite is the dominant of the three as he throws his cup to the floor in a assertive manner. The other two me do not really react and that's the last we see of them. The shot is now focusing on the male in the grey as he crosses a bridge. In the bottom left you can see a male figure standing in the shadows and walking as other man walks. This detail could be missed but it's there for a reason as the shadows imply that the figure could be more of a darker character. Now this new character comes in to play, on seeing him the man in the grey suite calls out 'Jack' so the audience knows that they are aware of who each other are. The man's body language also changes when he sees Jack, he goes from powerful strides to becoming submissive and arching his shoulders back and this builds up the anticipation of something happing along knowing that they are high up, and soon enough he gets punched in the stomach. After their fight the authority and dominance of the man in the grey suite is passed to Jack and this allows the audience to recognise that Jack is the main character and not to be messed with.