Research: Mise en scene: Setting and iconography

Mise en Scene: Setting and iconography

 What is setting?

Setting is a term used to describe the location of where a film is being set, subsequently making it conventional to the genre it belongs to. Setting is vital within thriller movies due to the fact that it can create several connotations and denotations based on how a location appears. For example, if a film is being set in a forest or another isolated location, it would automatically present the film as a horror or thriller movie.

What is iconography?

Iconography is a term used to describe any object that we witness in any particular scene within a film. These items can range from the props that the characters use to any object or item that is in the setting. Iconography adds a lot of meaning to what goes on in a scene.

Setting and sub genre

Settings are very dependent on sub genres as it can make the movie what it is and also make it easier for the audience to engage with the film.

Sub genre setting examples:

Action thrillers: Action thrillers tend to be set in places such as banks, streets, underground, and other urban locations.

Sci-fi thrillers: Often set in locations such as laboratories, factories, and other forms of bases.

Crime thrillers: Usually set in streets, homes and virtually anywhere.

Psychological thrillers: Tend to be set in enclosed locations such as hospitals, churches, houses and prisons.



Typical thriller iconography


 Knives

 Knives are a typical thriller iconography and relate to the thriller genre because it's a key
 weapon that the antagonist or suspect uses to harm or kill victims making it a common convention in thriller movies. In thrillers there are some scenes whereby the antagonists stabs the victim and thrusts the knife back and forth, this sends chills down the audiences spine therefore making it fitting to the thriller genre as it really heightens the feeling of terror, certainty and suspense that is associated with thrillers. A close-up shot of a bloody knife laying on the ground is an example of how knives can be introduced into a scene. Knives are associated with thrillers as they strongly represent  blood, death, pain and brutality.



Shadows

Shadows are also a typical thriller iconography.They are used in thrillers when they show the antagonist slowly heading towards his or her unsuspecting victim. Shadows are also a great way to mask the identity of the antagonist, due to the fact that it builds up the mood of anticipation in a scene as the audience is made unaware of who the antagonists is or what he or she is going to do. Shadows in thrillers symbolize mystery and uncertainty which is why they work excellently in thrillers as they do not give away clues to the audience. In the thriller film scenes, shadows are mostly associated with really unpleasant isolated locations which helps as it builds up fear in the audience.




Typical thriller settings

Woods are locations typically used for thrillers as they show a large area of land occupied by only trees with no sign of  civilization - usually where the characters are prone to getting lost or subsequently being forced to isolate themselves from people by the villain. Woods often lead to the victim trying to figure out how to escape. Woods strongly symbolize loneliness and isolation  which strongly links thrillers as they create the sense of vulnerability and it seems inevitable that the characters will ever find any help or escape the wrath of the antagonist



Conclusion: In conclusion the information above has helped me to develop a deeper understanding of how setting and iconography helps to create different connotations and denotations by the audience. The type of setting I'm planning to use in my thriller are crime thriller settings such as streets, parks, and houses and the type of iconography are blood, weapons and shadows.