The document discusses how mise en scène and camera work are used to represent and communicate social class in films. Mise en scène refers to the arrangement of visual elements in a scene, including costumes, locations, props, and lighting, which can highlight differences between characters and places. Camera angles and composition also convey information about social class. The document asks the reader to analyze shots from four films - Crazy Rich Asians, Slumdog Millionaire, The Help, and Titanic - and discuss how social class, race, and gender are depicted through the use of mise en scène and camera work, and if class stereotypes are depicted or countered.

1. Representations
of SOCIAL CLASS
How to read
representations
of social class in
mise en scene
and composition

2. Mise en scène
Literally means “placing on stage”
in French – and is a common term
used in film analysis/criticism to
describe the arrangement of all the
elements within a visual scene.
This arrangement frames and
attempts to “fix” meaning. Includes
costume design, styling, location,
props, and lighting. Binary
opposition is often used to
highlight differences between
places, characters, or objects.
scène

3. Camera angles
& Composition
In addition to mise en scène, camera
angles and composition work to
communicate information in a visual
scene.

4. How are
representations of
social class framed
through mise en scène
and camera work?

5. Write down a paragraph analyzing
these 2 shots from Crazy Rich Asians.
Describe the shot. Identify how social
class is communicated using camera
work and mis en scène. How is social
class racialized? Gendered? How are
class stereotypes depicted or
countered?

8. Write down a paragraph analyzing this
shot from Slumdog Millionaire.
Describe the shot. Identify how social
class is communicated using camera
work and mis en scène. How is social
class racialized? Gendered? How are
class stereotypes depicted or
countered?

10. Write down a paragraph analyzing this
shot from The Help. Describe the shot.
Identify how social class is
communicated using camera work and
mis en scène. How is social class
racialized? Gendered? How are class
stereotypes depicted or countered?

12. Write down a paragraph analyzing this
shot from Titanic. Describe the shot.
Identify how social class is communicated
using camera work and mis en scène.
How is social class racialized? Gendered?
How are class stereotypes depicted or
countered?