Montage and Montage and Mise-en-Mise-en-SceneScene

Thinking through montage and mise-en-sceneThinking through montage and mise-en-scene

‘‘It is important to recognize that narrative is It is important to recognize that narrative is

neither primary nor necessary to cinema, neither primary nor necessary to cinema, and it and it

forms no putative essence of the medium’forms no putative essence of the medium’

-- Sean Cubitt-- Sean Cubitt

What other ways do we think through film?What other ways do we think through film? MontageMontage Mise-en-sceneMise-en-scene

Narrative MontageNarrative MontageIn In narrative montage narrative montage connections between connections between shots are used to drive the story forward, shots are used to drive the story forward, and to show relationships of time and place. This isand to show relationships of time and place. This isThe most technique in modern filmmakingThe most technique in modern filmmaking

ExampleExampleWe see a man buying tickets at an We see a man buying tickets at an airline counter, followed by an image of an airline counter, followed by an image of an aeroplane in flight, then the same man riding in a aeroplane in flight, then the same man riding in a taxi, and we understand that he has travelled to taxi, and we understand that he has travelled to another town or city.another town or city.*Taken from Brian Moon, *Taken from Brian Moon, Viewing Terms Viewing Terms (2004:118)(2004:118)

Rocky Rocky montagemontagehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwpN_kGKhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwpN_kGKj_Qj_Q

Ideational MontageIdeational Montage

In In ideational montage ideational montage images are linked images are linked together to suggest an idea or to comment together to suggest an idea or to comment on the action.on the action.

Ideational montage does not attempt to create a Ideational montage does not attempt to create a unified time and space, but instead juxtaposes unified time and space, but instead juxtaposes heterogeneous objects and events for the heterogeneous objects and events for the

purpose purpose of creating abstract, symbolic or metaphorical of creating abstract, symbolic or metaphorical meanings.meanings.

Soviet MontageSoviet Montage Sergei Eisenstein proceeded Sergei Eisenstein proceeded

to forcefully engineer to forcefully engineer cinematic consciousness cinematic consciousness through his ‘montage of through his ‘montage of attractions’ that was designed attractions’ that was designed to ‘shock’ the thoughts of the to ‘shock’ the thoughts of the spectator into spectator into thinking thinking through filmic movement.through filmic movement.

Eisenstein’s Montage TechniquesEisenstein’s Montage Techniques JuxtapositionJuxtaposition Metric montage: the temporal Metric montage: the temporal

metre with which individual metre with which individual shots are assembled, it shots are assembled, it doesn’t refer to the content of doesn’t refer to the content of shot, but the way shot lengths shot, but the way shot lengths are shortened or extended in are shortened or extended in order to produce a ‘pulse-order to produce a ‘pulse-beat’ beat’

Rhythmic montage: the Rhythmic montage: the tempo of cinematographic tempo of cinematographic movement within the movement within the composition composition

Dziga Vertov – Dziga Vertov – Man with a Movie Camera Man with a Movie Camera (1929)(1929)

Mise-en-sceneMise-en-scene Mise-en-scèneMise-en-scène is a French term and is a French term and

originates in the theater. It means, literally, originates in the theater. It means, literally, ‘put in the scene’.‘put in the scene’.

Refers to almost everything that goes into Refers to almost everything that goes into the composition of the shot, including: the composition of the shot, including:

- framingframing- movement of the camera and charactersmovement of the camera and characters- lightinglighting- set design and the general visual set design and the general visual

environmentenvironment- sound as it helps elaborate the composition. sound as it helps elaborate the composition. Mise-en-scèneMise-en-scène can be defined as the can be defined as the

articulation of articulation of cinematic space, and it is precisely space cinematic space, and it is precisely space

that it is about.that it is about.

From Robert Kolker, Film Form and Culture (2001)

Die HardDie Hard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGDQ19kRGkwDQ19kRGkw

Effects/affects of Effects/affects of mise-en-mise-en-scenescene

Spatial articulation of:Spatial articulation of:Mental statesMental statesMetaphorsMetaphorsMoods, sensations, desiresMoods, sensations, desiresAesthetic figuresAesthetic figuresAbstract ideas Abstract ideas