Television Aesthetics COMS 169: TV Criticism
Todays Agenda Housekeeping: Have you chosen your text? Mise-en-scene (elements prepared before recording) Videography (elements used during recording) Sound, Style, and Editing (elements used after recording) Most of my examples tonight will contain multiple aesthetic elements. How many can you identify?
Put in the scene A film term borrowed from theater
Mise-en-scene: Set Design Studio vs. Location No ceilings Character entrance and exit
Mise-en-scene: Costuming
Mise-en-scene – Lighting (pay attention to how you feel ) Direction Intensity Color Source
Mise-en-scene – Actor movement Blocking Shallow space Typical…lateral movement Deep space One actor near the camera, one far away
Some film people get offended when you call it cinematography Both terms are technically correct!
Videography – Focus Soft focus (glamour shots) Deep focus (all planes are in focus) Closer to what the human eye experiences Rack or push-and-pull focus
Videography – Framing XLS (establishing shot) LS (actors entire body) MCU (actors chest up) CU (shoulders to top of head) XCU (anything closer than CU)
Videography – Framing Zoom! The LENS moves but the camera does not Traditional zooms feel outdated
Videography – Camera height and direction Low angle (camera looks up) High angle (camera looks down) Canted angles Panning Tilting
Videography – Camera movement Truck Dolly Crane Hand-held Documentary style Viewer is aware of the cameras presence Steadicam
Post-production
Sound, style, and editing Point of view Cut Fade, Wipe, Dissolve…but usually Cut How long it takes versus how long it feels Continuity Violating our expectations makes us tense or suspicious, or we find it humorous
Sorry…more ER …a quick one
Continuity Pillows Pillows Pillows Pillows Pillows Pillows Pillows Pillows Pillows Pillows Pillows Pillows Pillows Pillows Pillows
Sound, style, and editing Speech Music Sound effects Foley artist Diegetic sound (characters can hear it) Non-diegetic sound
Listen…
What do you see/hear?