Analyse how mise en scene can be used to create meaning in a media product you have studied (Sherlock).
1. All features of mise en scene
2. Two examples of each feature of mise en scene
- Costumes/Make-up
- Props
- Location/Setting
- Gestures/body language
- Lighting
Analyse how mise en scene can be used to create meaning in a media product you have studied
A first example of mis en scene being used to create media can be seen in the Sherlock Episode ‘The Blind Banker.’ In the episode the use of props connotes the episode as suspenseful and enigmatic. This is done with the giant crossbow used first at the Chinese circus in an escapology act in front of Sherlock, John and John’s date and colleague Sarah. Later in the episode, the giant crossbow is used a second time by the circus this time revealing themselves to be an Ancient Chinese crime syndicate known as the Black Lotus. In the second event the giant crossbow is turned on Sarah who is tied up in a chair and gagged unable to move out of the crosshairs unlike the escapologist before. The Black Lotus go along with this disturbed and horrific version of the act as if it is completely normal, even calling Sarah ‘a member of the audience.’ This is to psychologically mess with our protagonists and further connote the crime syndicate as evil and unhinged. The giant crossbow is used two contrasting times in separate locations and lighting types to juxtapose the two events as opposites. The first one is on a comfortable event stage with bright and warm lighting connoting the event as controlled and entertaining. This is then juxtaposed with the second event happening in a dark and dirty train tunnel, low key lighting is used to denote mystery, and death. It also promotes the house colours of the syndicate as they use black origami paper, wear black clothes, and are called The Black Lotus which connotes them as in control and dominant in the situation opposed to that of the audience I.e., our protagonists Sherlock and John. As well as this Jijon I.e., the foot soldier is killed by a bolt that if John had not moved it in time would have killed Sarah instead. This further juxtaposes the two instances as no-one was even injured the first time the crossbow is used. But the second time, someone is killed connoting how easy the Black Lotus could kill someone which further connotes them as superior and dominant.
A second example of mis en scene that is used to create meaning in The Blind Banker is firearms. Firearms are first seen and used by a foot soldier of The Black Lotus. This reinforces codes and conventions of Sherlock being an action drama and as a crime drama. This also connotes the foot soldier and The Black Lotus as dominant, powerful and against the law (reinforcing good vs evil conventions.) This would also make the viewers feel fear and horror as at 49:20 Sherlock goes up against the foot soldier unarmed and alone which puts him in peril and connotes him as a prince character needing to be rescued and backed up by John. Firearms are also used to present the age demographic for the show as they are used partly for comedic effect. This is shown when Sherlock is chasing the foot soldier through a museum exhibit at and says, ‘careful some of those skulls are over two hundred thousand years old have a bit of respect.’ Then when the foot soldier stops firing, he says ‘thank you.’ This creates a comedic effect in an otherwise suspenseful and dangerous situation that would appeal to the fifteen plus target audience. We can also connote that the show is for a younger age bracket because of the lack of props when shots are fired as when Soo Lin Yao is shot and killed, we do not see the gun nor the gestures or facial expressions of her being shot. By only connoting someone being shot and not showing them dying the programme can be put down to a fifteen. At the end of the episode firearms are used again to connote violence but also to connote enigma and suspense. This is because the firearm was shot by an unknown source on the orders of someone the audience cannot see or hear. The only thing we know is they go by ‘M.’ This is particularly enigmatic because both the main antagonist ‘Moriarty,’ a side antagonist ‘Magnussen’ and Sherlocks brother ‘Mycroft’ go by M. This clever use of a violent power-play ending with the main antagonist of the episode who until then was shown in a position of power was then shown being apologetic and fearful to the point of tears grovelling in front of this unknown character. By juxtaposing Shen, a dominant character that was able to capture John and Sarah and ended up almost killing Sarah, with someone who killed her effortlessly would make the audience feel fear for John and Sherlock as in the scene previous they thought that Shen had escaped freely and have no clue that someone far more dangerous is coming for them.
In Sherlock’s episode ‘The Great Game’ location is used to connote the show as an action drama and set up the theme of the episode. This is shown at 5.29. The ruined 221B sets the episode up as an action drama because of the use of an explosion in the first five minutes of the show. Explosions and ruins are a convention of the action and action-drama genres and therefore connotes the theme to the audience subconsciously. It also connotes to the audience that this was a personal attack as not only is it Sherlock Holmes and John Watson’s home, but it is in the middle of a residential area, and it was when Sherlock was home alone. The fact that other people being there and the specify of the attack denotes to the reader that it was personal, and it was by someone dangerous and evil who does not care about the safety of the civilians walking by but does care that our main protagonist Sherlock is harmed. This also connotes the zeitgeist of 2010 as that year there was massive earthquake in Chile which was one of the largest ever recorded in history. This depiction of destruction would connote verisimilitude to the audiences in the U.S and Asia as they may have feared of an earthquake such as the one In Chile and would have create sympathy and empathy from the U.K audiences towards those in Chile affected by the earthquake.
Later in ‘The Great Game’ props are used to create tension and enigma. This can be seen from 10.09 to 11.25. In this section of the episode, our main heroic protagonists Sherlock and Dr John Watson is presented with a brown envelope which is addressed to ‘Sherlock Holmes’ but was sent to the police. This connotes enigma because there is nothing known or observable about the new object except for the name on the front. It also connotes enigma because Inspector Greg Le Strade has scanned the parcel and it is completely safe to open yet him and his police team still do not know what it means. This would create intrigue and enigma with the audience as the police, particularly Scotland Yard, not being able to solve the problem is worrying. It further creates tension and enigma as Sherlock is then handed the package and begins to examine and open it. As he is the main heroic protagonist of the show and John Watson is right next to him the audience would feel fearful for both the characters' safety, not wanting him to die or be injured. The fact that the police cannot solve the case reinforces the negative stereotype of the police being useless and not serving the public properly, this is reinforced by Le Strade's defeated facial expressions and sighs as he hands over the package with a certain worry and reluctance to Sherlock.
