Contextual Studies-TV Theory Lecture 2

Contextual Studies-lecture 2

Morning
Mis en scene

Mise en Scene is crucial to what television and film are about - a visual medium. It is important to be able to understand and interpret mise en scene (e.g. Semiotics)

Definition: What is actually being seen on the scene or visual frame.

Mise en scene originates from theatre, defining the placement of objects and characters within plays.

4 Key Elements of Mise en Scene:

Costume: what the visual look of characters conveys (e.g., good vs bad)

Staging/Stage Directions: The placement of characters and props - the way in which they act with body language.

Props/Production Design/Setting: This includes items that are used by characters, purposeful decisions on the design of the set/location as well as colour choices.

Lighting: how it affects setting and character (e.g., shadows for villains and thrillers)

Game of Thrones example

• Setting-cold, austere, masculine

• Costume-uniform

• Lighting-cold blue key lighting

• Staging-crowded

• Observational Documentary  

• Setting-authentic locations

• Costume makeup- defines social class

Setting-TV studios Set- Director specific staging too

• Costume/makeup-character specific

• Lighting-high key with natural lighting simulation

• Semiotics: the study of sifns and their meaning (from semeiotikos: 'interpreter of signs')

• Denotation/Signifier - the sign (word, colour, image.)

Connotation: the hidden meaning behind something.

• Useful visual shorthand. Reinforces Steve Coombes' show, not tell rule.

• Can help define characters, their emotional state and status (class, occupation)

• Can help define relationships between characters through staging, lighting and framing.

• Action is character, what we do is as important as what we say.

• Handheld camera footage

• Faces pixellated out of view in order to protect their identity.

Realism: the presentation of art as simulacrum of world as exists. Used to convey notions of authenticity, truth and representation.

Classicism: the presentation of art as continuity with past; especially formal notions of aesthetics, form, design and content.

• Constructed set emulates 'geek' bedroom. Items in the background change every video, however consistently relate to either the topic of the video or general pop culture.

• Costume is supposed to be regular, relatable. He represents the standard, average joe. Signifies 'blue collar' authenticity.

Drama
STAR WARS (George Lucas, 1977)
Setting: Sci-fi
Costume: Very simplistic, black means bad (sith), white means good (jedi).
Interpreting Mise en Scene:
How we read mise en scene depends on our interpretation of visual codes, signs and symbols.

Context and mise en scene:
How we interpret or decode elements of mise en scene also depends on cultural context.
Star Wars and The Matrix are both Hollywood SF/Fantasy genre films inspired by Asian culture, Star Wars adheres to classical 'Western' convention (protagonists wear white, etc.)

How does mise en scene help us in storytelling?

TOWIE - Scripted Reality (documentary conventions but with scripted situations)
Setting: Hyperrealism, feels like a set stage. Minor artificiality about it, may be real however definitely exaggerated.
Costume/makeup: Glamour, aspirational? Perhaps they're meant to be role models for a younger generation whether this is the case or not.
Lighting: High key, very dramatic lighting, typically found in tv/theatrical drama.
Staging: Sitting on the sofa together, very casual... perhaps supposed to be relatable? Shot, reverse shot during dialogue (drama trope).

The Only Way Is Essex has blurred the line between drama and reality television.
Conventions of Documentary:
Realism, classicism & mise en scene:

Nanook Of The North (1922, directed by John Flaherty)

Famous classic documentary following the lives of inuits living in the Arctic. Lighting was an issue as older cameras needed a massive amount of light in order to produce a decent image due to its time period where cameras weren't as advanced as they are today. To do this the filmmakers had to remove the top of the igloo in order to receive additional lighting from the sun.

Afternoon
Umberto Echo-PC vs Mac
Semiotics- wrote a pamphlet off the topic of PC vs Mac

SAS Embassy Siege (1980)
Construct a 5 minute sequence and how you'd go about doing it

For such a sequence it would be a good idea to have a visual reenactment of the event. This would be done by bring actors to perform a piece, therefore evoking real emotion to the audience. However, you are unable to film at the actual embassy so you would require building a set. It would also be good to have contextual footage and interviews with ex SAS men.