Medium long shot (MLS): I think this camera shot was used to create tension as the shots after this one keep getting closer and closer to the actor to create a sense of suspense for the audience as they’re awaiting to see what happens next or how close the camera is going to get to the character before something happens.
Big close-up (BCU): I believe that this camera shot was verypowerful especially at this point in the film as the camera is very close to the actor’s face making the audience feel as if they’re almost there, interacting with the characters themselves which creates a bond with the audience which is very important especially because of all the heavy social issues discussed and brought up.
Long shot (LS): I think this shot was used to present the character to the audience fully, meaning that the viewer can see all different elements of the character such as his outfit, movements etc. Making the viewer connect with Chiron as we can see and almost feel what he is seeing and feeling. This also creates almost an anticipating shot as we don’t know what he is planning on doing until it happens in the next scene.
I have chosen this scene from the beginning of the film “Joker” (2019) to expand and explore my ideas on “Mise-en-scene”, this refers to everything the audience can see in the frame including elements such as: lighting, actors, props etc.
I chose to talk about this specific scene as it is a very low camera angle shot so you can clearly see the camera lens is almost on the ground itself, almost symbolizing the very low point in which Arthur was at in his life during this scene. The shot composition of this scene is also very powerful in a way as it makes Arthur the only thing fully in focus, therefore letting the audience know he is the main character in this movie as everything in the foreground and background of him is all out of focus besides from him implying his impotence. As this is one of the first scenes we see of Arthur in a costume, it will ultimately make the audience correlate the costume with Arthur’s moments of weakness, this however contrasts with the last time we see him in a costume, and he is taking over the influence on raging civilians who at the end of the movie are starting violent protests and destroying everything around them. This then makes a drastic shift in how the audience now views Arthur.
In this scene, the lighting is dim with bright streetlights as the only light source in the frame, making Arthur kind of blend in with what is happening around him as a possible way of showing his unimportance in this particular scene. This later contrasts to the next time we see the Joker going down the same set of stairs as not only the appearance of the character changes but also their entire personality and confidence.
I have also decided to talk about this scene because I think the coloring and assembly of the set design in this shot because it doesn’t only allow the viewer to see the interactions between the main character (the Joker & his mother) but it also creates more attraction point in the frame meaning the audience have more than one thing to focus on as everything is in focus. The brightly colorful elements in this shot such as the set design and props used also have positive connotations which implies that Arthur’s mother and taking care of her is one of his main priorities and source of happiness, compared to how other aspects of his life such as his job and meetings with his social worker are presented in colors which are more dull and dark.
I picked this scene to talk about makeup within this film as I think the makeup used in this scene such as fake blood on white face paint made the red pop out a lot making it attention catching for the audience as it stands out compared to everything else in the frame. The fake blood specifically created a sense of verisimilitude meaning what we see on screen is accurate to what it would look like if it happened in real life making it realistic and in some was more entertaining to watch from the viewer’s perspective.
The element of spacing is used effectively in this shot as we can see all elements within the frame such as the actors, props, cars etc. as they are all in focus allowing the audience to decide what or who they want to follow. This shot is also a great example of shot composition in this film because of all the elements in this shot and the way they are placed, specifically Arthur being in the middle of the frame the entire time showing his importance.
This shot represents the Joker as being a leader and even a role model to the citizens of New York as he is center-frame and also the only character in focus. This was used as one of the last scenes in the movie because it shows how Arthur rose above everyone when he became the Joker meaning he is very important as or right now but maybe also later. The Joker is also presented as powerful and even cruel using makeup and costume design making it look like Arthur has been through a lot to get to the top (which he has).
I decided to give this film an 8/10 because I thought it was a powerful film which delt with serious social issues such as drug usage and addiction, discrimination, bullying and sexuality. I feel like this film was great at showcasing what all those issues really look like, giving the film a deeper sense of verisimilitude and creating an emotional bond with the audience. The 3 different actors who played Chiron at different stages in his life felt very connected with one another, giving the audience the impression that it was the same person all the way throughout the movie.
Memorable scene: the most memorable scene in my opinion was the very last scene of the movie where young Chiron is on the same Miami beach as teenager and adult Chiron were also at. This for me was memorable as it symbolizes a “full-circle moment” meaning something symbolic in the movie takes place usually at the end or beginning of a movie which then has an important correlation with something leading to the same point in the movie. I think this was great as it made the audience much more interested in the overall plot as it is left up to the viewer to make their own assumptions and theories about the movie, hence why it is at its peak interest point.
What does Monoco mean by the term “The Spectrum of Arts”?
There is no simple way of answering this question as there are hundreds of things to say about “the spectrum of arts” as it is so wide, and everyone has their own perception of the various forms of art such as:
History – recorded the story of race and cultures over time, leading not only the modern social sciences but also a broad narrative
Poetry – this form of art has been a widely loved and explored form of art ever since the roman days, recognized in those times as either: lyric, dramatic or epic
Astronomy – this was known as the art of “searching the Heavens” and it represents the vast range of modern sciences at the same time as it suggests one other aspect of social sciences in its astrological features, values and functions of production and interpretation
Dance – this form of art and many variations of it have been around for millions of years, it is a very expressive form of art, requiring skill, endurance and commitments however it was and is still used today by humans to celebrate and be able to express their emotions without the use of words
Music – humans have been creating music ever since the beginning of time, maybe not with a variety of instruments or music editing apps but with either objects, their voices, instruments or even the nature around them as music has been a symbol of celebration and essentially what makes people happy as there is a very large spectrum surrounding music because everyone’s ‘music taste’ is different making it the amazing art form it has come to be allowing people to express how they feel through music
Comedy and Tragedy – both these types of performing arts have mainly come around over the century for the entertainment of society (plays, musicals, movies etc.), these are both admirable components in performing arts as many people modernly use these as inspirations for their own future
In conclusion, Monaco explains that Art is such a broad spectrum, meaning every person may have a different way of viewing art depending on the individual’s personality and what they view as “good” or “bad” art.
I personally really enjoyed this movie as it was great at portraying the mental health issues the main character (Arthur) was dealing with as the contrast between scenes was very noticeable and impactful. For example, some scenes seemed more calm and almost eerie as they were slow-moving compared to some of his more hectic and rapid scenes, making Arthur seem out of control and manic in some cases making it scary for the audience as we don’t know what he will do next but it also allows the audience to make their own assumptions about what the Joker is capable of.
Memorable scene: In my opinion this movie had a lot of amazing scenes, however my favourite scene was the staircase scene when Arthur was first introduced to the audience as the “Joker”. I enjoyed this scene because it was a huge contrast to the first time we saw him on the same staircase (gloomy and dark) contrasting with the ‘iconic’ staircase scene with the Joker looking happier (singing, dancing and bright colours).
I think that some of the films from the table such as ‘The breakfast club’ and ‘A bug’s life’ (films I categorized as mainstream) have many different features to them which make them be considered ‘mainstream’ such as being easy to watch and follow along, suitable for a wide age range and also being loved by the audience as they are entertaining and sometimes even relatable.
