Deconstruction of Mise en Scene
A mini-essay activity
Purpose
• The purpose of this assignment is to have you
apply the film knowledge you’ve developed to
a specific scene from a film.
• You will be applying film terms to analytically
look at a scene and how it functions as a
whole.
Camera Angle (high, low,
eye level..)
Eye Level
The camera shoots
them in a neutral
way, suggestive of
normality.
Lighting
High Angle from wall light.
Back light from room.
Light pours down on the
figures illuminating Marion
more, but casting distinct
light/dark shadows on
Norman’s face, almost as if he
is wearing a mask. The scene
is also backlit to indicate a
cozy interior behind them. –
one that appears safe and
domestic.
Body Position
Both Standing facing each other.
Norman holds a tray towards Marion.
Marion stands with hands clasped in
front of her.
Binary opposition of good and
evil. Norman’s arms holding
the tray look as if he’s offering
her something,. They are
sharing the frame, however
Norman takes up 2/3 of the
screen and Marion takes up
1/3. This may predict our
growing identification with
Norman.
Objects in the Scene
Milk jug, tray, Norman’s reflection in the window,
shades half drawn, lamp inside and lamp outside.
The shape of the oversized milk jug is like
an arrow that points to Marion. The milk
serves as both a reminder of the
omnipresent mother in Norman’s life as
well as the fact that Norman’s
attachment to mother is literally and
figuratively standing between Norman
and Marion. The reflection in the
window suggests the duality of Norman’s
personality and is a motif that is
represented in the film.
Interpretation of the meanings conveyed by
mise en scene in the parlor scene of Psycho.
•
The parlor scene from the film Psycho reveals
much about how meaning is conveyed to a
viewing audience by the use of mise en scene.
In this scene, Norman brings Marion supper on
a tray but the real message revealed by the
objects, lighting and placement of the actors is
that Marion is clearly being chosen by Norman
to be his next victim.
The angle of the light source for this scene is
high on the wall between the two figures, but
closer and illuminating Marion more. The light
falls on Marion’s head, and a beam of light
points directly at Marion. This suggests that
Marion is the focus of Norman’s attention and
makes her seem more vulnerable because she is
“in the spotlight” or “in the sights” of the killer.
The most obvious object in the scene is the
oversized milk jug on the tray that Norman
carries. The jug is seen in profile, with the spout
pointing directly at Marion.
•
This reinforces the idea that Norman has
fixated on Marion and has made her his “prey”.
The position of the actors and their body
language are also important in the reading of a
scene. Although the camera is at a neutral angle
and suggests nothing about the power
relationship between the two figures, the body
language reveals much about what is in the
mind of Norman. Norman’s arms holding the
tray lookas if they are pointing to Marion, but
she is standing with her arms at her side, which
makes her look unprotected and unaware of
Norman’s intent. Norman is positioned as the
aggressor and Marion as the victim.
•
The meanings rendered by mise en scene in this
still from the film are effective because they
subtly suggest and preview what will happen
later in the narrative. They build up a feeling of
unease in the viewer because they are in
contrast to Norman’s feigned friendliness to
Marion. He smiles and acts with boyish kindness
while at the same time plotting Marion’s savage
murder.