Mise En Scene Of Titanic Film Studies Essay

This is the final chapter; the Mise-en-scene and Ideological model will be discussed and applied to the findings and analysis that have been discussed in chapter four. Besides that, this chapter will be answering the research question in chapter one, the achievement of the objective of this study will be discussed also. At last, there will have some suggestion for the future research in order to improve and develop a better thesis on this particular topic.

5.1 Concepts and Theories Applied

There have two concepts and theories that applied in this research, which is the mise-en-scene and ideological models. Both theories will be discussed and applied to the findings and analysis that have been discussed in chapter four.

5.1.1 Concepts and Theories Applied – Mise-en-scene

The film ‘Titanic’ has attracted audience’s mind successfully, this is applicable to the theory mise-en-scene. According to Timothy Corrigan (1994), ‘the mise-en-scene is a French term that roughly translated as “what is put into the scene” (put before the camera).’ So, based on the mise-en-scene theory, in order to produce a successful film, filmmaker needs to decide what put into the scene before the shooting work.

There have five elements of mise-en-scene which are the setting, costume and make-up, lighting, space and also acting style. These five mise-en-scene elements are the key to make the film ‘Titanic’ successfully.

The setting in this film has created the contrast between higher and lower classes. The vivid acting style by several main and supporting characters has enhanced the storyline, and also made the story run smoothly. Lighting in this film has created meaning in all scenes, the mood has enhanced through different lighting in several scenes. The costume in this film is functional in telling audiences that the different characteristic of the characters in the scene, it’s also enhanced the contrasted class level in this film. Space arrangement in this film has giving the meaning to the particular scene through different camera placement and camera shot.

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According to Heather Logas and Daniel Muller (2005), mise-en-scene in used in all genres of fill to shows the full range of human emotion. Through the focus group, respondent M1 and F1 are telling that the scene of Jack lets Rose lying on the wood after the ship sank is memorable to them, because this scene is emotional, and showing that the best human emotion in that kind of situation. Respondent F2 has credited to the scene the flying scene of Jack and Rose at the ship, this scene is romantically, she said that the mise-en-scene elements in this scene have done well.

Based on the results on focus group, more than a half respondent are preferred the acting style when viewing a film. Debi Buckner (1983) stated that the actor’s job is to convey a message to the particular audiences. They will fail in their task if their work is so obvious that audiences are more concerned with their effort than with the message to be conveyed in the film. In the focus group, all respondents are only called the name of the main characters as ‘Jack and Rose’, there has nobody to call their name as ‘Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, this is fulfilled the statement of Debi Buckner (1983), because audiences watching the film are only remember their character’s name and their characteristic in the film, the actor and actress has convey the message successfully in this film, the name ‘Jack and Rose’ are still memorable while people discussing about the film ‘Titanic’.

Heather Logas and Daniel Muller (2005) stated that the exploration of the concept of mise-en-scene has allowed filmmakers to communicate information to the particular viewers. Mise-en-scene is a holistic approach in the frame constructing process. Through the focus group in chapter 4, all the respondents are agreed that the film ‘Titanic’ is a film successfully attracted audience’s mind and created a lot of memorable scene. Until today, they are still remembering some particular scene in this film.

5.1.2 Concepts and Theories Applied – Ideological Models

Ideological models refer to the relationship between the films and society in terms of the representation of social and political realities. So, most of the films would add in the ideological elements into the plot or story.

Teun A. Van Dijk (1996) stated that a variety of discursive structures and strategies might be used in order to express the ideological beliefs and also the social or personal opinions derived from them. Through the focus group, most of the respondents are stated that the class studies are strong portrayed in the film ‘Titanic’. The contrasting between higher and lower classes is obviously seen in this film.

Respondent M1 said that the scene that the memorable class studies applied in this film is the lower class peoples are playing lousy instrumental and sing the local song at the lower floor of the ship while higher class peoples are playing violin, piano at the upper floor of the ship, the different treat to the different class in the ship is most obvious to portray the class studies in this film. Respondent F3 has noticed that the lifestyle of the passenger in the ship is also the class studies that the filmmaker intends to portrayed in the film ‘Titanic’, because the film was shows that the same social status people should group together.

Most of the respondent in the focus group has stated that the ideological class studies were applied in the film ‘Titanic’. According to Douglas Kellner (1991), ideology refers to primarily, which those ideas that legitimate the particular class rule of the capitalist ruling class, ideology is those sets of ideas to promote the capitalist class economic interests. Respondent F4 stated that most of the time the higher class will look down at the lower class in the film ‘Titanic’. In this film, audiences can see the higher class, which is the rich person is having the special treatment in the ship. After the ship hits the iceberg, most of the save boat in the ship are given seat primary to the higher class, this is showing the contrasting between the poor and rich person treatment.

Furthermore, Mise-en-scene elements in this film are aided to portray the ideological elements, especially the costume and setting between the lower and higher class people in the ship. Higher class is wearing the high quality and extravagantly shirt/dress, but the dressing of lower class is casually and low quality. For the setting, higher class are in the upper level with extravagant decoration, but the lower class are in the lower level with simple decoration. Because the mise-en-scene makes the ideological elements obvious in the scene, so, audiences can easily to get the message that the filmmaker intended to send out.

Answering Research Questions

How were the five elements of mise-en-scene applied into the movie ‘Titanic’?

Through the content analysis, findings showed that the film ‘Titanic’ has successful with well done of mise-en-scene elements. These five mise-en-scene elements are acting style, setting, space arrangement, costume and lighting. All the above elements was applied into the film ‘Titanic’ to enhanced the storyline and also make the story run smoothly.

Based on the findings of content analysis in chapter 4, the setting in this film has created the contrast between higher and lower classes. The vivid acting style by several main and supporting characters has enhanced the storyline, and also made the story run smoothly. Lighting in this film has created meaning in all scenes, the mood has enhanced through different lighting in several scenes. The costume in this film is functional in telling audiences that the different characteristic of the characters in the scene, it’s also enhanced the contrasted class level in this film. Space arrangement in this film has giving the meaning to the particular scene through different camera placement and camera shot.

So, these five mise-en-scene elements in the film ‘Titanic’ is the important key to make this film successfully and memorable.

What are the ideological elements portray in the movie ‘Titanic’?

Through the discussion of the focus group, findings showed that respondent M1, F1, F3 and F4 also agreed that the film ‘Titanic’ has portrayed the class studies, Because ,most the scene has showing the different classes life obviously.

There have several scene in this movie has strongly portrayed the class studies in the discussion such as the scene of the lower class peoples are playing lousy instrumental and sing the local song at the lower floor of the ship, while the high class peoples are playing violin, piano and so on at upper level has showing the different lifestyle of different classes lifestyle. The film ‘Titanic’ always showing different classes of people can get different treat in the ship. This film has shows the social status obviously through their lifestyle, this film has shows that same social status should be grouping together. The status symbol in this film is being portrayed most of the time especially the higher class will look down at the lower class.

Besides that, respondent F2 said that the race studies were portrayed in this film; because the film has shows there have different races passengers in the ship, this show obviously through their costume and spoken language.

What is the most preferred mise-en-scene element by the viewers in the movie ‘Titanic’?

From the discussion of the focus group, findings showed that the most preferred mise-en-scene element by the viewers in the movie ‘Titanic’ is the setting, there have three respondents are preferred the setting when viewing the film ‘Titanic’. The setting in this film mostly is in the ship, it is suitable and luxurious setting, show the social status of some character obviously in this film and also the Titanic cruise is grand and extravagant, it’s look real and viewer can feel like they are inside the ship while watching this film. Following is the costume; because it can giving audiences the knowledge about the England last century high and low classes people costumes.

Besides that, findings showed that the most preferred mise-en-scene element by when viewing a film is the acting style. Four of the respondents said that they are preferred acting style when viewing a film. They are preferred acting style, the reason is because the good acting style can lead the movie into higher level and credit for the whole artwork, audiences will have no interest to certain film that the poor performance of actor or actress. The acting style of character can enhance the storyline of film.

Achievement of Objectives

This research has investigated the five mise-en-scene elements those are seen in the movie ‘Titanic’. We can know this through the findings of content analysis. The results showed that these five mise-en-scene elements (acting style, setting, space arrangement, lighting and costume) are done well in this film in order to make it run smoothly and memorable.

Besides that, the finding of the focus group has showed that the ideological elements portrayed in the movie ‘Titanic’. Among five of the respondent, four of them agreed that the ideological element that portrayed the most in the film ‘Titanic is the class studies. It is because the contrasting between high and low culture is strong portrayed in this film. Besides, the race studies also have portrayed in the film, because audiences can able to view that the passengers in the ship is consist by different races, this shows obviously through their costume and spoken language.

The most preferred mise-en-scene of ‘Titanic’ by viewers also has found in the focus group. The result shows that the setting in this film is the most preferred mise-en-scene aspect when they are viewing this. Among the five respondents, there have three respondent that is preferred the setting of the film ‘Titanic’. Besides that, the focus group also found out that normally audiences are preferred the acting style while watching a film.

Suggestions for Future Research

Researcher need to do a lot of research from various sources and aspects to develop a better understanding about the mise-en-scene and ideological models in conducting this research. Readings of the journals regarding the researched by past researcher was needed in the progress. So, the journal, past research and book is helpful for this research because it can give the researcher the ideas and suggestion which are helpful in guiding the researcher from the beginning until the end of this research.

Furthermore, the focus group is useful for this research topic, better to find the respondent that who have the basis understanding about the mise-en-scene and ideological models, students of film studies was preferred, so that the result can be more deeply and accurate.

Additionally, Researcher need to me consistent, persistent and stay awake all the time when conducting research, although it is stress, but the researcher need to be patient and confidence to finish it.

Conclusion

The main purpose of this research is to analyze the mise-en-scene and ideological elements portrayed in the film ‘Titanic’, and also to discover which mise-en-scene aspect that viewers preferred by viewing the film ‘Titanic’.

The five mise-en-scene elements have been analyzed through content analysis at the end of this study. Besides that, setting, the most preferred mise-en-scene element by the viewers when viewing the film ‘Titanic’ has found out through the focus group discussion. And the ideological elements portrayed in this film which is the class studies has found out through the focus group discussion.

In order to get the better understanding and concepts for this study, readings for the pass research is very important either through online or book. These concepts can help to researcher conduct the research smoothly.

As a conclusion, through this research assignment, the three objective of research has been achieved, and also answered the three question of study, hopefully the film ‘Titanic’ can be conducted by future researcher because this film is the good example of film successfully.