This week is about Visual Analysis. It is used to understand artworks’ visual elements, to read and critically interpret images, advertisements, news, films. 

One of Visual Analysis thing is “Mise-en-scene “, in other words, it means “to put on the screen” and it is useful as a starting point of describing what you see on screen. It includes setting, lighting, costumes, make-up and hair, figure behaviour. 

Setting 

It does not need to be constructed but it often is. The setting consists of sound stage and props (short of properties). The stage sound helps to simulate whatever environment the filmmaker wants to create. Meanwhile, props help to amplify the mood or bring up details, not just the big scene. 

Lighting 

It establishes the mood and directs attention to details. There are a few types of lightning. One of them is “three-point lighting” that illuminates shots subject by throwing harsh or soft shadows. Another is “high- key” that makes a little contrast between bright and dark. One more lighting style is “low- key” that makes a high contrast. The lighting helps viewers to understand the setting.

Costume, make-up and hair

They help to create a certain image of the character. For example, if we want to depict an 80’s woman, we probably do a crazy and messy hairstyle, dress her in very colourful clothes, put vibrant colour eyeshadow. 

One more important thing in Visual Analysis is the Cinematography which includes the camera’s angle, gaze, framing, distance. Talking about the camera’s distance, it affects the human subjects that they are being shot. For example, close up is very useful if we want to be in tune with the emotions of the character. While a long shot can be used to make the character feel smaller.  

There are some more examples of camera distance:

So, Mise-en-scene is the first thing we need to start with by analysing movies, videos, commercials and etc.

01.10.2020