Mise-en-Scene and Iconography

Hello and welcome to the first of many entries on this media blog created especially for you, my lovely Year 10 cohort!

Today’s focus is on two of the most important pieces of Media Studies terminology: ‘mise-en-scene’ and iconography.

Activity 1 - Defining the Terms

In your books, write a short definition of ‘mise-en-scene’ in your own words.

Activity 2 - Using Examples

With the sub-heading ‘James Bond - Iconography’, write down all the images which you would associate with this fictional character. You should be able to come up with at least 8!

Do not read on until you have completed this task.

Look back at your list. By including any of these things in the mise-en-scene of a Bond film, the director is employing ‘iconography’ (images and objects which hold specific connotations with a certain subject).

Activity 3 - Employing your own iconography

In the world of film, iconography often involves pandering to certain stereotypes.

Have you ever seen an American teen-comedy set in a high-school? Think of all the images you would expect to see which would tell the audience that you are looking at an American high school; the tall lockers, the benches in the cafeteria, the bleachers where people sit to watch football games, the clothes people wear to signify what social group they are in.

All of these things are symbols which the director has put in the mise-en-scene to let the audience know where the film is taking place. These symbols are all taken from what we call ‘iconography’ - the images and objects which we associate with a certain time, place or subject.

Your task is simply this:

Briefly describe what you would include in a film set to show us that we were in the following locations:

1. The bedroom of a teenage boy who loves sport.

2. The bedroom of a teenage girl who is in love.

3. The classroom of a frustrated teacher.

4. The office of an important businessman.

When you have done this, give your own definition of iconography.

Activity 4 / Homework: Putting it into words

1.Look at these pictures from charity advert campaigns. Some of them are disturbing, but as we are due to be making our own charity campaigns, it is important that we become familiar with the conventions of this genre... one of which is unpleasant images. Write down any indicators which show you where these scenes are set. You can refer to anything you can see in the pictures including the people in them.

2. Write a paragraph detailing your thoughts on why mise-en-scene and iconography are important in the media.