Narrative function of misce-en-scene

The narrative function of mise-en-scene helps guide us through film through the story being told and in the manner to which the story is told that allows us to see it in such a narrative form. Analyzing a scene from sweet Alabama where Melanie first confronts Jake about why he will not sign their divorce papers is a good example of mise-en-scene and we can apply the following questions from Teaching Mise-en-Scène Analysis as a Critical Tool by Tricia Welsh

Dominant. Where is our eye attracted first? Why?

Our eyes our first attracted to Melanie as she is screaming at Jake about not signing these papers to where you can see the lake in the background.

Lighting key. High key? Low key? High contrast? Some combination of these?

Lighting is low key in the beginning and stays that way throughout most of the scene.

Shot and camera proxemics. What type of shot? How far away is the cam-era from the action?

The camera is right in the action in the beginning of the argument it almost feels like you are there.

Angle. Are we (and the camera) looking up or down on the subject? Or is the camera neutral (eye level)?

In the beginning we are looking down on the subjects, to where we go to looking up at the subject and then the scene finishes out with looking at eye level where they start to talk to each other in a calmly matter.

Form. Open or closed? Does the image suggest a window that arbitrarily isolates a fragment of the scene? Or a proscenium arch, in which the visual elements are carefully arranged and held in balance?

The form is closed off because of the visual elements are very arranged as we follow them during their argument.

Framing. Tight or loose? Do the characters have no room to move around, or can they move freely without impediments?

The framing is most definitely loose because they move around as Jake sprints to lock the doors and Melanie tries to find her way in.

Character placement. What part of the framed space do the characters oc-cupy? Center? Top? Bottom? Edges? Why?

The character placement starts in the center and stays that way until Jake realizes that Melanie has somehow gotten herself into the house where you see both of them on the edges where you can certainly read their body language.

Character proxemics. How much space is there between the characters?2

In the beginning of the scene they are in very close proxemics as they are practically screaming in each other’s face. Then when the argument somewhat disbands their proxemics get larger as Jake runs away and locks the door and then the proxemics come back in closer once Melanie gets into the house.

All of these help in the narrative form because without them you would not have the story line being portrayed in such a great way. Narrative tells the story and without the proper placement and understanding mise-en-scene you can’t really see the meaning behind it or for how it was meant to be seen.

Welsch, T. (1997). Teaching mise-en-scène analysis as a critical tool. Cinema Journal, 36(2), Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/1225778.pdf