Topic: Analysing Mis-en-scene
Mise-en-scène is a media term which means ‘put in the frame’. Everything that you
see and hear has been carefully selected to create meaning. An important part of
media studies is exploring how this meaning has been created.
;
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Director: Tim Burton
Cinematographer: Dariusz Wolski
Study the given still frame and use the thinking points below to help you Analyse the
scene.
Aspect
Thinking point
Comment
Setting
Props
Lighting
Where/when is it
set? Is it filmed on
set or location? Does
the setting tell us
anything about the
genre?
What props have been
included? Do they tell
you anything about
the setting or genre?
Connotative meaning?
Natural or artificial?
Where is it coming
from? Intensity?
Shadows? What
atmosphere is
created?
The setting is in a weird forest where there
are many different floura and fauna found.
Tree, flowers, natural stairs and a stone
door.
The lightning is natural as its in nature I.e
in a forest.
Costume
and makeup
Movement
Framing
and
compositio
n
In the picture there is a woman in a blue
What are the
characters wearing? dress who seems to
Does this tell us
anything about the
characters,
relationships between
them, the setting? Is
one color more
prevalent than
others? What effect
does this have?
What does body
language and facial
expressions tell us
about characters’
emotions? What kind
of atmosphere is
created?
What has been
included in the
frame? How are
objects positioned
within the frame/in
relation to each
other? Are we seeing
things from one
person’s viewpoint?
1. Describe everything you can see in the frame and how it makes you feel. Consider objects,
actors, angles, framing, colour, lighting, depth of field, blocking, size, set, props, etc.
2. What do you believe is happening in this scene? What leads you to make these
assumptions?