Loneliness

Need

Need

Fear

Sadness

Mis en scene: la Bum

Mis en scene, “what is put into a scene”. A visually captivating piece involving aspects within the frame that define a character or what the director/artists wish for you to understand. These subtle techniques can make up much of the message the author is trying to convey, such as; the lighting, objects, scenery, actors, costumes, and props. Certain images won’t please you, interest you or intrigue you; they may simply exist for you. It’s existence deriving from the “co-presence of two discontinuous elements, heterogeneous in that they did not belong to the same world” (Roland Barthes, 1982). The first being an enthusiastic commitment, without acuity or clarity of vision. The inevitable encounter between the photographer’s intentions and the entrance into harmony with them, acceptance and a mediocre understanding of the culture from which the understanding derives, a contract between creators and consumers, a discovery of the operator, experiencing his intentions ‘in reverse’ according to one’s will. The second element rises from the scene, shoots out and pierces; it shows no preference for morality or good taste it pushes forward the object of which arouses the most emotion, Barthes describes the “intense mutation” of his interest when this spark is triggered “the virtuous gesture which seizes upon “docile” photographs” (Barthes, 1982). This element can be referred to as mis en scene. Initially there’s understanding, perhaps the understanding of what creates this poignant emotion in detail. The photographs I wish to analyse contain mis en scene that I wish to describe some of the purest emotions; loneliness, need, sadness and fear. These emotions perhaps felt through the life of a homeless person, the “out of sight, out of mind” ideology that seems to be absorbed by every person who walks past someone homeless and ignores them. These ideas are conveyed through;

Lighting:

The lighting of all these photographs highlights the character, beckons’ the viewer to ‘feel’ for the character. Focuses the viewer’s attention to the epitome of the particular emotion it incorporates. The brain processes light information to visually represent the environment but it also detects changes in ambient light level. This creates the emotion one might envelop when viewing a particular photograph. The use of darkness to hide the objects around the character, literally and metaphorically shroud the character in it. Her life being consumed by what she feels. In ‘loneliness’ the character sits in a position that implies there’s a torch on her, highlighting the viewers focus and adjusting it to the obvious feeling of the character, as with composition.

Composition:

Composition within mis en scene is: the organization of certain objects or focus in order to convey a particular message, the plan, placement or arrangement of elements or ingredients in an art work and the selection and placement of the elements of design according to the principles of design within the work. In these particular images, the use of a crate, a beer bottle, a cigarette packet and dirty old shoes among other things. These possessions are all the character has in the world, in ‘Needs’ the character reaches, limply for a bottle, effortlessly as if she is saddened that this object is one of the things keeping her sane. The shoes just underneath her hand suggesting that this place has become her ‘comfort zone’ for the time being, an effective composition. There is no right or wrong composition in photography. A composition that conveys a photographer’s intended meaning is an effective one. A photograph that communicates its message, that says what you want it to say, says it clearly, and that interests its viewer, is an effective composition. The same can be said for costumes.

Costumes:

Costumes are an effective means in which an author of a particular text can describe a character personality, even intentions without saying a word. In these photographs we see a scruffy pair of boots, a thick jacket, scruffy green beanie and dirty jeans. The strange mix in this particular outfit suggests that this character is not naturally a bum, more to the point this use of mis en scene suggests that the character has only recently ‘lost everything’. A homeless person will wear just about anything they find, whereas this person has a unique arrangement, such as the beanie, a need for such a thing is unclear unless the character is only recent to becoming homeless.

Mis en scene is an effective medium in conveying an author’s message or intention for a vignette. It conveys successfully the character’s story per se. In these images, it has made apparent the character’s emotional state, and situation.

Old Pic

new rockshana

Originally uploaded by rockshana

This one is old, but to me it looks how I wish to feel, and so I’ll always love it.

I remember that day well too. I was exploring this old factory that I used to love going to. I remember the feelings I used to get in there, serene, calm, myself. I actually miss it so much, it may sound strange but it’s one of those places that you just want to fall into and become a part of.

I’ve been reading this book lately called “The Keep”, the character describes the feeling that I’m trying to so well. He calls it “alto” as there isn’t really a word for it. It’s what you feel when you look at the stars, you feel small, yet you can’t help be absorbed in the beauty of it and you feel a connection to the entire universe through this one medium, you can almost feel that longing as well, the one you feel in your chest. The longing that makes you wish so badly you could spend eternity feeling this feeling but you know it will end, so it almost hurts.

That was this factory for me, when I die I only hope I haunt this place.

Cool Quote

“The very success of mimicry lies in it’s failure, because out of failure comes unanticipated innovation”

What I’m Thinking

you know I’ve been wondering lately, what’s the point in it all. Don’t get me wrong I’m not being depressing or emo or whatever else, but I just wonder. I feel like I’m going through the motions and I can’t seem to get my particular motion right. I’m a person thats the result of what alot of other people think my ‘person’ is. Well … I don’t know if thats true really, going up I took alot from your classic femme fatale type of personality and incorperated that idea unto my own. So that’s become what people assume I am, after the attack, when I got so raddled that I wasn’t as strong as I initially thought, I started to wonder who I really am.

New Video

it felt necessary

Wierd Happenings

I had a funny day at work yesterday. It wasn’t especially nice, some guy was into me and he tried to kidnap me. I was out the front having a cigarette and this guy tried to grab me and pull me in the car, he wasn’t very smart though, the bouncers stuck to him like glue. I guess, my point is, it’s wierd, I have never disliked my job but I also have never thought about how dangerous it is. I’ve always thought I was rather powerful over men, when this happened I felt helpless and I didn’t like the feeling. Anyway I have to go, I have to think about life lol

My Work Vid

The Dancers Cabaret me vid as promised