Mise en scene refers to elements that establish the time and location of a film scene. Key elements include the setting, costumes, props, makeup, lighting, and positioning of actors. Together these elements provide context and help tell the story through visual means rather than dialogue. For example, westerns are typically set in the American Midwest to reflect the historical setting of cowboys, while sci-fi films may be set in space to feature other worlds or space travel. Costumes also help indicate the time period of a scene or character traits, and lighting, body language, and positioning can convey mood or a character's role.