Research: Mise En Scene: Setting and Iconography - Mrs. Quinlan

Setting and Iconography

What is setting and iconography and why is it an important convention? How can it help with audience understanding? Discuss connotations and denotations.

Setting is the location where the events in film are filmed. This is a very important convention to all films especially thrillers as it allows the audience to understand where the events are taking place furthermore, to add to their understanding as they can predict the future events that might take place whether it's dark or happy. For example. the audience can infer something good is about to happen if the setting is in a positive environment such as in a crowded park. The park connotes happy children and positive vibes so the audience know that something good will happen on the other hand, if the scene is set in a dark environment like the forest, viewers are enable to make judgement's with negative connotations due to the lack of lighting foreshadowing dark events.

Iconography is a crucial convention when it comes to thrillers as it adds the excitement, without it, the film wouldn't be high quality and enjoyable to watch. It is the main object in that particular scene which the audience mainly focuses on. This particular object conveys certain messages through focusing on it using movie techniques such as using close-ups. In this example: a knife. Why does the director choose to focus on this object? This is because he/ she wants the audience to understand what will actually foreshadow in later scenes that may involve that specific object. When a knife is used as iconography, especially in thrillers, the audience begin to feel a sense of fear and it unconsciously plays on their mind as the director has made it the center of attention.

Connotations and denotations in a movie is important because its what conveys further messages within itself, something quite similar to a Easter egg hunt which by the audience would have to independently pick up small hidden messages to understand the movie clearer. Typical thriller settings include suburban locations such as massive houses in the middle of no where, empty buildings, forests, confide corridors but may also take place in urban locations such as busy roads if it was an action thriller such as 'Fast and Furious'.

Examples of thriller locations:

Setting: What are typical thriller settings and why? Examples

Typical thriller settings would usually use dark scenery and other types of lighting for examples; low-key and back lighting to convey themes such as mystery and danger. With these types of lighting, they cast shadows upon the character which would usually suggest that that particular character is the antagonist due to their hidden identity created by the shadows. The thriller genre specialises in intense movie scenes which may or may not scare the audience which is why they conventionally have dark and spooky scenes likes these ones:

Forests

The dark forest is typically used in supernatural thrillers and connotes danger as it is a rural location symbolising isolation and threat. It's typical to the thriller genre because for if the victim happens to be here alone, its very isolated and quiet with no one around to help. It's also very difficult to find your way out and especially when its dark. They are unlikely to escape which increases the tension and suspension for the audience.

Abandoned Houses

Abandoned house are usually used in thrillers as the denotation of an empty and abandoned house connotes danger as there is no one to help. It is expected for victims to be battling it out with the antagonists which is most likely to be paranormal or supernatural characters. This creates a fearful response from the audience who witnesses this making the victim look more helpless as abandoned houses don't usually have any neighbors.

Settings and sub-genre: How are settings dependent on sub-genres? Examples:

Setting is important because it's what generates the emotions that the audience might be experiencing. For example, a thriller would conventionally have dark and spooky setting to create a tense atmosphere. Setting is especially dependent on a particular sub-genre because it brings certain characteristics other genres might not have.
Sub-genres massively depend on the setting as the setting cannot be chosen if there is no sub-genre. A setting must be chosen after the sub-genre so it makes sense to the film and the audience.
Examples of settings and sub-genres working well together include:

• Psychological Thriller - A psychological creates a negative and spooky atmosphere is created by low-key lighting and in some cases back lighting to add that extra thrill. The audience response to this can be quite chilling because who isn't scared of not being able to know what they're trying to run away from. They usually include locations such as dark alleyways, hospitals and forests. All these locations are dark and most likely to have paranormal/ supernatural characters. 

• Science Fiction Thriller - A sci-fi thriller would often be expected to be set in laboratories or spaceships. These particular settings are conventional to the sub-genre as the audience would expect to see the events taking place in these particular locations as sci-fi involves science and the unexpected.

• Action Thriller - In an action thriller, it would be expected to take place on busy roads, streets, rooftops and empty buildings. With these types of locations, it builds up tension and excitement for the audience, there would be plenty of action to occur in such car chases and fighting scenes. This is conventional to a thriller as its expected for the antagonist to put him/herself in danger whilst fighting the antagonist in a public place.

Iconography: What are typical thriller iconography and why? Discuss connotations and denotations. Examples:

Typical iconography that are used in thrillers are always something that the audience can easily infer from for example any type of violent weapons such as knives, baseball bats, guns etc. This is because there are already negative connotations referring to this object which the audience are able to understand quickly.

• Knives are easily detonated as sharp and deadly but also can sometimes be seen as plain innocent to a child. For example: A knife and fork at the table, a mother cooking her family. On the other hand, knives used in thrillers connote death and danger because of the denotations that describe it has very sharp and could potentially hurt someone.

• Baseball bats is also an everyday object just like the knife, denoting that it's a blunt and playful object that are used to hit baseballs into the air soaring. But they are also very heavy and could be used as weapons and this is the denotation we get from thrillers when we see this type of iconography. A baseball bat can connote violence as it is solely used to hit with and this is why it is reflected as a weapon in thrillers.

• Guns generate denotations like used to defend one. Connotations of a gun might illustrate a quite heroic thing to used as we understand that Armies use this to defend us. In thrillers they connote danger and violence because they are conventionally used to kill and not even to defend. 

Psychological Thrillers

In a psychological thriller, the iconography tends to be identified as rocking chairs, mobile phones, knives, photographs and letters. All these particular objects connote danger and supernatural vibes as its associated with psychotic antagonists who usually use these types of objects to terrorise their victims by affecting their mental state. This is conventional to a thriller as the audience are put through suspense due the hidden identity of the antagonist which further creates fear.

Crime Thrillers

In crime thrillers, they often use of guns, knives and any type of violent weapons as their iconography, this is because these are weapons are able to be used in exciting fighting scenes that viewers like to watch as they have chose to go and watch this specific sub-genre. The denotation of guns and knives connote death and threat which makes the audience anticipate fighting scenes. This is conventional to a thriller genre as it is expected for the antagonist and protagonist to use these weapons ti battle against each other in this crime thriller.

Science Fiction Thriller

In a science fiction thriller,the iconography tends to be something between medical and futuristic such as laser guns and needles. These particular objects connote mystery and danger as the audience don't know what to expect from these abnormal objects that may or may not be from outer space or in the future. This creates a sense of mystery and fear within the audience as they doubt whether or not the protagonist can fight against these advanced technologies. This is conventional to a thriller as it is expected for the iconography such as technology to be used in order to present the protagonists future difficulties he/she may face.

Analyse a scene with the use of iconography 

This action thriller is set in the hospital after the victim suffered from life threatening burns. The joker dressed as the nurse really emapthises the scene when it also states that joker is a crazy and psychotic antagonist who needs attentive care. The gun in this scene is very important and is the iconography in this scene. Joker places the gun to his head as he manipulates the burn victim, which really shows the importance of the gun as he could've killed the antagonist right there and then but chose not to because of joker's sick and manipulative games.

Conclusion:

The research I've done on iconography and setting has been very significantly helpful as it has taught me that this is one of the most important aspects when creating a thriller. Iconography creates subtle messages within a movie allowing the audience to make many different interpretations and I now know the importance of certain connotations and denotations to a particular object. I like the idea of using empty houses as it gives off a strong psychological and supernatural feel to, I want to achieve this in my thriller and I've learnt to day that it is very successful with psychological thriller fans. After researching, I intend to use conventional iconography like phones which connote manipulation for my psychological thriller. In conclusion, iconography is an important element when it comes to thrillers as it is used to idnetify the genre of the film therefore I know I must select these important objects carefully making sure I get the right response from my audience.