This first post is a glossary for terms throughout my blog that you or I may not be familiar with. Use this page to help yourself gain a better understanding of the terminology used throughout the blog. I’ll be regularly updating the page with new terms as we go on.
Mise-En-Scéne (ˌmēz ˌän ˈsen)
The Mise-En-Scene Is a french term that roughly means ‘place on stage’ and is used to describe anything that will be placed in a particular shot; from actors to a couch. It can also include the framing of a shot.
Shot reverse shot
When a scene cuts back and forth between two characters, usually over shoulder.
Pan/track/zoom
These terms refer to specific camera movements –
Pan– Moving the camera on its horizontal or vertical axis to follow a subject
Track – Follows the subject by pushing either backwards, forwards or alongside.
Zoom – Refers to the changing of focal length during a shot
Suture
Suture refers to the the process of the audience being “sewn into” the “fabric” of a particular film.
The gaze
Used to refer to how the audience perceives other individuals, or themselves
Audience
Audience is used to describe the viewer of a film
Representation
Refers to speaking or acting on the behalf of a particular group within a piece of media
Montage
A series of clips detailing a passage of time or a build up to a significant event (http://www.elementsofcinema.com/editing/montage.html)
Characterisation
Create a character in a work of fiction and building on qualities or characteristics that character might have.
Tropes
Defines something within a film that is widespread and universally recognised. For example, the cutting of the red wire any time theres a bomb in a scene would be considered as a trope as it is the most common solution amongst the media
Diagetic
Sound that has a source “on screen” meaning we hear that sound as well as the character in the film – This clip from John Krasinki’s “A Quiet Place” Is a wonderful example of diagetic sound, where the characters can hear the sound of the space shuttle as can the audience – GRAPHIC WARNING *Potentially upsetting scene*
Non-diagetic
The opposite of diagetic, this describes sound that does not have a source within the film. For example the score or narration
Kino-eye
Kino-eye is a film technique developed by Dziga Vertov and describes film that is ‘Inaccessible to the human eye” in that it does not attempt to replicate how to the human eye would see events.
Avant-garde
The process of introducing new and experimental ideas into common practices – https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/themes/film/experimentation-in-film-the-avant-garde/
Non-narrative
A genre of film that follows no story or relate to an event
Cinema pur
Translating to “Pure Cinema” from French, it describes a movement of experimental non-narrative film during the 1920’s and 30’s
“The term was first coined by Henri Chomette to define a cinema that focused on the pure elements of film like form, motion, visual composition, and rhythm, something he accomplished in his shorts Reflets de lumiere et de vitesse (1925) and Cinq minutes de cinéma pur (1926). The movement included many Dada artists, such as Man Ray (Emak-Bakia, Return to Reason), René Clair (), Fernand Léger (Ballet Mécanique), Marc Allegret, Jean Gremillon, Dudley Murphy, and Marcel Duchamp (Anemic Cinema)” -https://expcinema.org/site/en/wiki/article/cinéma-pur
Anti narrative
Describes a narrative that does not adhere to the usual conventions of a narrative
Genre
Genre describes the category that a particular film belongs to (Crime, Fantasy, Comedy, Drama) each film can then be split into sub-genres depending on the nature of the narrative (Romantic Comedy, Historic Thriller, Zombie Horror)
Iconography
Visual factors in a film or work of art that can be used to easily define the genre or style of film to a wide audience.
Film noir
A style of film usually characterised by cynical heroes, crime, ambitious lighting and use of flashbacks. Film noir tends to be black and white.
This flashback scene from Curtis Bernhardt’s 1947 film High Wall shows a great use of a flashback and really highlights the genre
Aesthetic
The way the subject of a film is put across to an audience, closely related to Mis En Scene
Bibliography
Elementsofcinema.com. 2020. What Is A Montage (Film Editing)?. [online] Available at: <http://www.elementsofcinema.com/editing/montage.html> [Accessed 27 March 2020].
A Quiet Place. 2018. [film] Directed by J. Krasinski. USA: Platinum Dunes. 2018. A Quiet Place, Beau Death Scene. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CmmKmlXD9I> [Accessed 27 March 2020].
Lords of the Rings – The return of the king. 2003. [film] Directed by P. Jackson. New Zealand: New Line Cinema. 2011. The Lord Of The Rings – Best Scene (HD). Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCZ3SN65kIs> [Accessed 27 March 2020].
Moma.org. 2020. Moma | Experimentation In Film / The Avant-Garde. [online] Available at: <https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/themes/film/experimentation-in-film-the-avant-garde/> [Accessed 27 March 2020].
Experimental Cinema. n.d. Cinéma Pur | Experimental Cinema Wiki. [online] Available at: <https://expcinema.org/site/en/wiki/article/cinéma-pur> [Accessed 27 March 2020].
High Wall. 1947. [film] Directed by C. Bernhardt. USA: Metro Goldwyn-Meyer. 2012. High Wall (1947) – Flashback Scene. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUHlhSccDbQ> [Accessed 27 March 2020].
