The following are the areas that will be explored when investigating mise-en-scene elements in the pop related images;

Costume, hair & make-up. Body language and facial expression Settings and props Lighting and colour Positioning of people and objects in the frame.

Investigating Mise-en-scene

In this image of Little Mix, the girls are all wearing brightly coloured clothing. Each member wears their own colours so it reflects how each of them bring something different to the band and that they each have their own personality. However the costume of the band is also similar in style which highlights the fact that they are united as a band. The curled hair and bright and girly make up provides quite a feminine look. The body language of the band is quite open and big, like they are dancing, which reflects that they are happy and having a good time. This is also shown by their facial expressions which are smiles and laughter. A white screen is used in the background which allows the bright colours that Little Mix are wearing to stand out and the sofa setting provides quite a playful element to the image. The bright lighting also contributes to the playful and happy vibe that is created in the image. Little Mix are clearly presented as a big successful artist as they dominate the frame of the image which highlight their importance. This analysis has helped me make decisions on how I will present mise-en-scene in my images. My artist will wear the appropriate costume and they will be smiling, making direct address. Also, their body language will portray a fun and youthful pop band.

This image of the Saturdays presents a very fun and excited style through the use of body language, facial expressions and colour. One of the girls is jumping up in the air and they are all laughing and smiling which highlights the positivity in the band. The mise-en-scene in this image will be similar in my images as the fun, positive tone signals the pop genre due to the youthful vibe which the target audience would appreciate. The colour yellow in the background is also very bright and vibrant which highlights the actual girl band. The hair of the girls in the band is mostly long and wavy which represents the free spirit in the band. The Saturdays’ make up is also very girly looking which reflects the femininity in the band. You can see the lighting reflecting off of the girls’ faces which further highlights the professional looking hair and make up. Similar to the Little Mix image, the Saturdays dominate the frame which shows how big and successful they are in the pop music industry. The girls are all wearing very fashionable and feminine clothing but each of them present their own style which reflects how each of the members of the band have their own personality shining through.

This image of One Direction uses props to make the image quite fun and quirky. They are tied together with a rope which may represent how close the band are together. This positioning in the frame is quite interesting and fun as it defies the convention of having the boy band just stand in a line and smile. The hair styles in the boy band are quite stylish and trendy but still quite common which allows the audience to view them as quite average and normal boys. The idea of making the band seem more relatable increases the appeal of them to the target audience. The costume is quite typical of boy bands celebrating pop. The costume is casual, yet trendy and fashionable which is expected of a boy band whose aim is to appeal to as many people as possible. By dressing quite casually and by abiding by mainstream fashion, the target audience will identify the band as a group of normal boys. This will further extend the appeal of the band to the audience. The facial expressions of the boys in the image are smiles which puts across the idea of the band being very friendly and relatable. The white screen in the background is also typical in pop magazines as it allows the image to focus on the artist without the audience’s attention being diverted by any other objects in the background or bright colours. These images are either a long shot or a medium long shot. Long shots are common with pop bands as it allows you to see the whole band, including vital mise-en-scene elements such as their facial expressions and costume. I will take long shots of my artist for this reason.