Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#157816 03/26/06 01:47 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
A
Pooh-Bah
OP Offline
Pooh-Bah
A
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
If any of you are film buffs you may be familiar with the term mis-en-scene (also mise-en-scene). I was introduced to the term by a friend of the family who gave it a certain definition (below, in white), and I've been using it that way for some time. I looked it up tonight and found a decidedly drier definition. So I was wondering if you would share what the term means to you, if anything. I'll white out my take on it to avoid leading the witness.

I was informed that the phrase refers to techniques that put the viewer "into the scene." For example, the camera may linger on sunlit curtains blowing gently in the breeze not only to convey a serene mood, but also to give an organic feel to the movie so that the viewer feels more like they are in the room with the characters, rather than a passive viewer at a safe distance. One example that comes to mind is in "Master and Commander" in the opening scenes when the camera lingers on the rigging of the ship and we just see the ship itself sailing along, creaking and swaying, with the sounds of the water and the wind in the background.

#157817 03/26/06 02:50 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
I
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
I
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
I was about to answer that it's one of the terms whose meaning I can never remember. Then I clicked on your link, and discovered why. For my money, the definition given in the fourth paragraph of that article is the most useful.

#157818 03/26/06 02:56 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Alex, did you follow the Straight Dope link at Wiki? certainly a less pedantic take.

#157819 03/26/06 03:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
A
Pooh-Bah
OP Offline
Pooh-Bah
A
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Yeah I followed it.

My main point was that I had been led to believe that the term described an artistic or stylistic choice. What the definitions say is more akin to set dressing, a more pedestrian take on it.

I guess what I really want to know is, if the technique I described isn't properly called mis-en-scene, then what is it called (if it has a name at all)?

#157820 03/26/06 09:29 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
I
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
I
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
In its most significant sense, mise-en-scene refers to everything under the control of the director, that is, the aggregate effect created by art direction, placement and movement of camera and actors, lighting, and other visual elements in a given scene. In other words, mise-en-scene is what the director does. By extension, but somewhat more vaguely, mise-en-scene can refer to the dominant visual features of a film or film genre, e.g., the typically cramped, somber mise-en-scene of the film noir.

-- Straight Dope

Directors may take credit for all this, and a minority might deserve to, but . . .

#157821 03/26/06 01:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Without looking at any other posts, I'll say to me it means "made right there." I think I know passively what its particular film meaning is but I couldn't articulate it right now. It may well have taken on other specific meanings in other contexts.

#157822 03/26/06 03:24 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
T
veteran
Offline
veteran
T
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
I understand mise-en-scene to mean the sum total of the cinematic results of the film's original raison d’ętre, whatever it might be.

But I think that in the real world the term garners more usage by serving as one of those fuzzy, vaguely and voguely, artsy words that serves to enhance the status of the paid critic.

#157823 03/26/06 03:30 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
I've also seen the term used in recipes, to mean "set-up" (e.g. specific pans or utensils you will need, how hot to preheat the oven, etc).

#157824 03/26/06 08:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
Well, for obvious reasons, , I shall wait for everybody to check in before putting in my two cents.

#157825 03/26/06 09:28 PM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
Quote:

Well, for obvious reasons, , I shall wait for everybody to check in before putting in my two cents.




What makes you think yuo would have any special knowledge, BelM? After all, the language in question is French, not kwebeckese.

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 442 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5