Mise-en-Scene Blog Analysis

 

Mise-en-Scene Blog Analysis:

Gilmore Girls -Season 1 Episode 7

Gilmore girls uses many interesting techniques to capture the attention of and retain their audience. Various aspects of mise-en-scene can be found throughout this comedic series. I have personally watched each season of this show many times and find it to be both compelling and comforting to watch.

Location/Setting and Props:

In this opening scene you can see Laurali as she walks with her daughter Rory through the town. This particular setting is already familiar to viewers as it signifies the opening of many episodes where the two walk together in the morning to get breakfast at Luke's Dinner. They walk past a gazebo, which marks the center of the small town and contributes to the charming town atmosphere portrayed throughout the series. You can tell it is morning as a man nearby yawn with a coffee cup and the light is becoming slightly brighter. The town center, where the two walk, is also filled with pumpkins and hay balls signifying to the viewers that it is fall season. Further there is a sign that reads Stars Hallow, Connecticut, near the gazebo. The camera pans to this sign as the characters pass it and it remains in the background behind them for some time. This was deliberately done to remind viewers precisely where the story is set, which is in this small town of "Stars Hallow." Additionally, there are pumpkins and hay balls seen throughout the town center to remind viewers that is fall and give a greater sense of a small vibrant town, which is known for celebrating every holiday and season throughout the year. 

Costume, Hair, Make-Up:

In this episode it is fall and nearing winter. Because the show is placed in a small town in Connecticut, the characters are all dressed warmly and in layers of clothing to reflect that. While both Laurali and Rory are in warmer clothing, they are dressed slightly different to resemble their different personalities. Laurali is a bit more eccentric and extroverted throughout all of the show and therefore is seen wearing brighter colors with some contrasting materials. She wears dark black tights and tall brown boots, with a deep red sweater and a yellow multi-colored scarf. She as has a red lip, and her overall make-up works to make her stand out more. Rory is seen wearing blue jeans and a cream-colored sweater. This outfit is more low-key and reflects her more introverted calmer personality. Additionally, while Laurali has her hair blown out, Rory's is in a simple braid showing the difference in time they each take with getting dressed. Further all of the characters or extras seen walking behind the pair, through the center of town, are also dressed in warm clothing, such as sweaters, vests, and boots. However, none of these individuals are dressed in a manner that would allow them to stand out in the background and are therefore seen in more muted colors. 

Lighting and Color:

As both Rory and Laurali walk through the center of town the lighting remains consistent and bright as it is the morning, and they are walking specifically to get breakfast. While there is bright lighting there is many shadows is the background produced by the many tall buildings throughout the town. This dark showdown seen between buildings however did not extend to the town center and the gazebo, which was much more brightly lit. Along with this the trees in the town center or square casted shadows through the park, yet the sign that read "Stars Hallow" remained bright light amongst everything surrounding it. Further the background contained many warm colors such as yellow, brown, orange, and red to reflect the specific time of year.

Facial Expressions, Body Language:

Both Rory and Laurali have various facial expressions that reflect the conversation they are having while they walk into the diner. Each episode goes through the typical day in the lives of these two women discussing mundane tasks they do and their respective jobs and school, while also going over the various drama the go through. However, in each conversation the two bicker, and in this particular conversation they are arguing about Rory doing her laundry without Laurali, while Rory has an amused expression on her face and a visible slight smile as she responds to her mother, Laurali seems more frustrated. Laurali's eyebrows are furrowed, and her voice is raised as she speaks to Rory who responds in a calmer manner. Laurali also uses lots of hand jesters to convey her frustration while Rory's hand remains by her side.

Proximity and Blocking:

As the two women walk, they are close to each other walking side by side, this is because they are related and obviously very comfortable with each other's presence even while they argue. As they pass through the park in the middle of town many individuals are seen walking behind the two, but the camera does not show anyone crossing in front of them as to keep them the main focus of the entire clip. As both characters walk there is a switch from a medium shot of the two arguing to a long shot where you can better get a sense of where they are in town and see other familiar characters interacting in the background. There is then a following switch back to a medium shot as the two enter the diner, pushing the door open and yelling for the owner Luke.