Y12MPA S1W1-7

Weeks 1-7: Foundations of Media Art and Pre-Production

Weeks 1–7: Foundations of Media Art and Pre-Production

In Weeks 1–7, students build a strong theoretical foundation in Media Art and Independent Film, focusing on storytelling, visual style, sound design, and art direction. Alongside this, students practice short answer responses to prepare for their first formal written assessment in Week 7. These weeks provide essential analytical skills and knowledge, setting the stage for practical work in subsequent weeks.


Week 1: Introduction to Media Art

In the first week, students are introduced to the characteristics of Media Art, such as experimental storytelling and visual innovation. Through an analysis of The Mirror (1975) by Andrei Tarkovsky and Next Floor (2008) by Denis Villeneuve, students explore how Media Art challenges conventional storytelling. The week concludes with a short answer practice question.


Week 2: Themes and Narrative Construction

Week 2 delves into the role of themes and narrative structure in engaging audiences. Students analyze the thematic depth and narrative choices in Next Floor and Piper (2016) by Pixar. Through practice short answer responses, students explore how filmmakers use conflict, resolution, and causality to connect with their audiences.


Week 3: Visual Storytelling

Visual storytelling takes center stage in Week 3. Students examine how mise-en-scène and cinematography communicate meaning in films. By analyzing La Jetée (1962) by Chris Marker and 12 Monkeys (1995) by Terry Gilliam, students explore how visual techniques evolve across time and styles. A short answer practice question encourages students to connect visual techniques to meaning.


Week 4: Sound Design and Editing Basics

In Week 4, students explore how sound and editing shape meaning and mood. Using A Quiet Place (2018) as a case study, students analyze how diegetic and non-diegetic sound, rhythm, and continuity editing create tension and enhance storytelling. The week concludes with a practice short answer response focused on sound and editing techniques.


Week 5: Project Development and Pre-Production Planning

The focus of Week 5 is on understanding the importance of pre-production in filmmaking. Students explore the creative and logistical aspects of pre-production, including storyboarding, production design, and scheduling, with insights from 12 Monkeys (1995). Students complete a short answer practice question evaluating the role of pre-production in a film’s success.


Week 6: Art Direction

Focus:
In Week 6, students explore the concept of art direction and how it shapes the overall visual identity of a film. They analyze how set design, props, costumes, and color palettes contribute to storytelling, mood, and thematic depth.

Week 7: Response Task 1

Focus:
Students will consolidate their understanding of Media Art concepts through revision and complete a supervised short answer written task, answering two questions from a choice of five in one period. The remainder of the week focuses on reviewing and refining their pre-production plans for their short film projects.

Building Toward Practical Work

Weeks 1–7 establish the theoretical and analytical foundation for filmmaking, focusing on critical engagement with Media Art principles. From Week 8 onward, students transition into extended answer practice and hands-on production tasks.

Modified Bloom’s Taxonomy for Academic Writing

Week 1: Introduction to Media Art

Welcome to Week 1! This week, we will explore the concept of Media Art and examine how it differs from mainstream cinema. Using Andrei Tarkovsky’s The Mirror (1975) and Denis Villeneuve’s Next Floor (2008) as case studies, we’ll analyze storytelling and visual techniques that define Media Art. We will also refer to key concepts from Film Art by Bordwell, Thompson, and Smith to ground your understanding in formal analysis.


What is Media Art?

Media Art prioritizes artistic expression over commercial appeal. Its defining characteristics include:

For an introduction to these concepts, refer to Chapter 1 of Film Art: “Film as Art: Creativity, Technology, and Business”, which discusses the artistic possibilities of film as a medium.


Your Tasks This Week

Key Media Terminology

While writing your analysis, make sure to use the following terms introduced in Film Art:

How to Approach This Question

To craft a high-quality response, follow these steps:


Explanation of Marking

Your response will be assessed on the following aspects:


Additional Resources

Week 1 Sample Essay

Short-Answer Question:

Question:
Discuss in detail how aesthetic and narrative techniques in Next Floor (2008) contribute to its classification as media art. Support your response with specific examples.

Short-Answer Essay with Annotations:

Introduction

Denis Villeneuve’s Next Floor (2008) is a striking example of media art, defined by its experimental storytelling, visual innovation, and philosophical depth. Unlike mainstream cinema, Next Floor prioritizes atmosphere and symbolism over traditional plot-driven narratives. This essay will explore how the film’s mise-en-scène, cinematography, and sound design reinforce its metaphorical narrative and artistic intent.

(Annotation: This paragraph introduces the core argument and establishes the film’s relevance to media art. It briefly outlines the key aesthetic and narrative techniques to be analyzed.)


Mise-en-scène: A Decadent, Dystopian Banquet

One of the most prominent aesthetic choices in Next Floor is its baroque and grotesque mise-en-scène. The banquet table, overloaded with excessive portions of meat, serves as a visual metaphor for overconsumption and the self-destructive nature of human greed. The dark, candlelit atmosphere, coupled with the guests' exaggerated, almost animalistic eating habits, reinforces the film’s satirical critique of consumerism.

(Annotation: This paragraph connects mise-en-scène to the film’s thematic message. It provides concrete examples of visual elements that contribute to the film’s media art classification.)


Cinematography: Framing and Camera Movement

Villeneuve’s cinematography enhances the film’s sense of claustrophobia and impending doom. The use of low-angle shots makes the guests appear monolithic and grotesque, emphasizing their dominance and arrogance. Meanwhile, slow tracking shots and symmetrical framing establish a rhythmic, hypnotic visual experience, drawing viewers into the film’s surreal world. The gradual tilting of the camera, mirroring the physical collapse of the floor, subtly foreshadows the guests’ downfall.

(Annotation: This paragraph discusses how cinematographic techniques create mood and reinforce the narrative themes. It highlights specific camera movements and their impact.)


Sound Design: Tension and Unease

Sound plays a critical role in Next Floor by building tension and amplifying discomfort. The grotesque chewing and slurping noises are exaggerated, making the act of eating seem grotesque rather than pleasurable. The lack of dialogue heightens the audience’s focus on auditory textures, making the eventual crashing of the floor even more impactful. This reliance on sound over speech aligns with media art’s emphasis on sensory and emotional engagement rather than explicit storytelling.

(Annotation: This paragraph connects sound design to audience reception, showing how it functions as an artistic tool rather than just a narrative element.)


Conclusion

Through its grotesque mise-en-scène, controlled cinematography, and unsettling sound design, Next Floor transcends traditional storytelling, embodying the philosophical and aesthetic ambitions of media art. Villeneuve’s work invites reflection rather than resolution, using metaphor and visual abstraction to challenge mainstream cinematic norms. As such, Next Floor exemplifies media art’s ability to evoke intellectual and emotional engagement through experimental techniques.

(Annotation: The conclusion reinforces the main argument, restating how the film fits into media art and summarizing the key techniques discussed.)

Week 2: Themes and Narrative Construction

This week, we’ll explore the building blocks of storytelling in Media Art. You’ll learn how themes and narrative structures shape a film’s impact, and you’ll practice constructing and analyzing narratives using key concepts from Film Art by Bordwell, Thompson, and Smith.


What are Themes and Narrative Structures?

Themes are the central ideas or messages explored in a film, while narrative structures determine how the story is told. In Media Art, these elements often challenge traditional norms, emphasizing philosophical questions, emotional depth, or social commentary.

To understand these concepts, refer to the following chapters in Film Art:


Your Tasks This Week


Key Media Terminology

When writing your analysis, make sure to incorporate these terms:


How to Approach This Question

Follow these steps to construct a thoughtful and high-quality response:


Explanation of Marking

Your response will be assessed based on these aspects:


Additional Resources

Week 2 Sample Essay

Short-Answer Exam Question:

Question:
Discuss in detail how the themes and narrative structure of Next Floor (2008) shape its impact as a piece of media art. Support your response with specific examples.


Short-Answer Essay with Annotations:

Introduction

Denis Villeneuve’s Next Floor (2008) exemplifies media art by using non-traditional narrative structures and strong thematic symbolism. Unlike conventional storytelling, which often follows a clear causal chain of events leading to resolution, Next Floor subverts expectations by emphasizing repetition, surrealism, and metaphor. This essay will analyze how the film’s themes of overconsumption and inevitable downfall are reinforced through its narrative structure, mise-en-scène, and sound design.

(Annotation: This paragraph introduces the argument, setting up the discussion of how Next Floor engages with themes and challenges traditional narrative structures.)


Theme: Overconsumption and Inevitable Decline

At its core, Next Floor explores themes of excess, greed, and self-destruction. The guests, seated at an elaborate banquet, consume grotesque amounts of meat, symbolizing society’s unending appetite for consumption. Their lack of self-awareness and continued feasting despite clear warnings serve as an allegory for capitalist excess and environmental exploitation. The recurring visual of the floor collapsing beneath them reinforces the idea that their gluttony leads to inevitable ruin.

(Annotation: This paragraph discusses the main theme, linking it to both visual symbolism and broader social commentary.)


Narrative Structure: A Cycle of Doom

Unlike classical Hollywood narratives that follow a clear beginning, middle, and resolution, Next Floor operates in a circular structure. The film opens with the guests already mid-feast, with no backstory or exposition, leaving the audience to interpret the meaning of the scene. The repeated collapse of the floor, forcing the characters to continue eating as they descend, subverts traditional resolution—there is no escape, no redemption. Instead, the story loops in a surreal, Sisyphean cycle, where indulgence leads to destruction, yet the pattern continues. This lack of traditional conflict resolution aligns with media art’s tendency to provoke thought rather than provide closure.

(Annotation: This paragraph explains how Next Floor defies conventional storytelling and uses its structure to reinforce its themes.)


Style and Film Form: Visual and Auditory Reinforcement

Villeneuve employs distinctive visual and auditory techniques to enhance the film’s impact. The dim lighting and muted color palette evoke a decadent yet decaying atmosphere, reinforcing the theme of moral corruption. The use of slow, methodical camera movements and symmetrical compositions adds a hypnotic, dreamlike quality, emphasizing the inescapable fate of the guests. The grotesquely exaggerated sound design, from the visceral chewing to the crashing floors, forces the audience into sensory discomfort, making the act of consumption itself feel repulsive. This stylistic emphasis on discomfort and excess replaces traditional dialogue-driven storytelling with an immersive, thematic experience.

(Annotation: This paragraph connects cinematic style—both visual and auditory—to the film’s core themes, demonstrating how form enhances meaning.)


Conclusion

By subverting traditional narrative structures and emphasizing repetition and metaphor, Next Floor challenges conventional storytelling and embodies the essence of media art. Its themes of overconsumption and inescapable decline are visually and aurally reinforced, creating an unsettling, thought-provoking experience. Rather than offering a clear resolution, Villeneuve’s film leaves the audience contemplating the cyclical nature of excess and self-destruction, proving that narrative structure itself can be a tool for thematic expression.

(Annotation: The conclusion ties together the analysis, restating how narrative and theme function together to create meaning in Next Floor as a piece of media art.)

Week 3: Visual Storytelling

This week focuses on visual storytelling, examining how filmmakers use mise-en-scène, cinematography, and composition to communicate meaning. By analyzing La Jetée (1962) by Chris Marker and 12 Monkeys (1995) by Terry Gilliam, students will explore how visual storytelling techniques evolve across different styles, genres, and time periods. The connection between these two films highlights the concept of adaptation, intertextuality, and the expansion of ideas from one medium to another.


What is Visual Storytelling?

Visual storytelling relies on the arrangement of visual elements—lighting, framing, composition, and camera movement— to convey ideas and emotions. In Media Art, visual storytelling often takes precedence over dialogue, allowing filmmakers to engage audiences on an emotional and intellectual level.

To understand these concepts, refer to the following chapters in Film Art:

Consider: 


Your Tasks This Week


Key Media Terminology


How to Approach This Question


Explanation of Marking

Your written response will be assessed as follows:


Additional Resources


Week 3 Sample Essay

Short-Answer Question:

Question:
Discuss in detail how La Jetée (1962) and 12 Monkeys (1995) use visual storytelling techniques to communicate their themes. Support your response with specific examples of mise-en-scène and cinematography.

Short-Answer Essay with Annotations:

Introduction

Visual storytelling is a fundamental cinematic technique that allows filmmakers to convey narrative, mood, and theme without reliance on dialogue. Chris Marker’s La Jetée (1962) and Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys (1995) exemplify this approach through mise-en-scène and cinematography, using distinct yet interconnected visual techniques to explore memory, time, and fate. While La Jetée employs a photo-montage structure, 12 Monkeys adapts its core themes using dynamic cinematography and rich production design. This essay will examine how these films use composition, framing, and movement to shape audience perception and deepen their thematic impact.

(Annotation: This paragraph introduces the key argument, establishing La Jetée and 12 Monkeys as case studies in visual storytelling. It outlines the core themes and techniques that will be analyzed.)


Mise-en-Scène: Static vs. Chaotic World-Building

La Jetée employs a sequence of black-and-white still images to construct a fragmented and dreamlike narrative. The film’s static mise-en-scène, relying on precise composition and lighting, mirrors the protagonist’s memories and psychological entrapment. In contrast, 12 Monkeys builds on this foundation with richly detailed dystopian production design, immersing the audience in a chaotic, decaying future. Gilliam’s signature cluttered, asymmetrical sets (such as the underground government facility) reinforce paranoia and instability, contrasting sharply with La Jetée’s minimalist, stark imagery.

(Annotation: This paragraph contrasts the mise-en-scène of both films, explaining how still imagery in La Jetée creates a timeless feel, while 12 Monkeys uses intricate set design to enhance its dystopian world.)


Cinematography: Stillness vs. Motion and Perspective

While La Jetée remains static, its careful use of framing and composition directs audience focus. The use of close-ups and symmetrical framing enhances the film’s meditative quality, emphasizing the protagonist’s emotional isolation. One striking exception—the single moving shot of the woman opening her eyes—is jarring and profound, symbolizing the moment of human connection in an otherwise frozen timeline.

Conversely, 12 Monkeys incorporates fluid, dynamic cinematography to heighten its sense of instability and paranoia. Gilliam frequently employs extreme close-ups and Dutch angles, distorting perspective to reflect the protagonist’s fractured perception of reality. The use of handheld cameras and tracking shots, particularly in scenes of mental breakdown or pursuit, enhances the film’s chaotic and disorienting atmosphere.

(Annotation: This paragraph highlights how La Jetée uses its still-image format to guide attention, while 12 Monkeys adopts fluid and unconventional cinematographic techniques to create a sense of disarray.)


Intertextuality: Expanding a Visual Legacy

12 Monkeys does not merely remake La Jetée—it reinvents its visual storytelling through movement and complexity. Key moments in 12 Monkeys, such as James Cole’s final death scene at the airport, directly reference La Jetée’s tragic, cyclical narrative. However, where La Jetée’s still photography forces the audience to reconstruct events mentally, 12 Monkeys utilizes cinematic movement to intensify emotional immediacy. The adaptation showcases how intertextuality allows filmmakers to reimagine and expand upon original works, bringing new dimensions to established themes.

(Annotation: This paragraph discusses how 12 Monkeys builds upon La Jetée, emphasizing intertextuality and adaptation as essential aspects of cinematic storytelling.)


Conclusion

Both La Jetée and 12 Monkeys exemplify visual storytelling techniques that prioritize imagery over dialogue. La Jetée’s still photography and structured composition create an introspective, dreamlike meditation on time and memory, while 12 Monkeys translates these ideas into kinetic, immersive cinematography that reinforces paranoia and instability. Through mise-en-scène, framing, and intertextuality, these films demonstrate the evolution of visual storytelling across different eras and styles, proving that cinematic meaning can be as much about how a story is seen as how it is told.

(Annotation: The conclusion ties together the analysis, reaffirming how mise-en-scène and cinematography serve as primary storytelling tools in both films.)

Week 3: Narrative Structure - Production Stuff

Short Film Narrative Templates for Student Productions

These templates provide structured narrative blueprints based on Purl, The Most Beautiful Thing, and Selfies Gone Wrong. They are designed to help you focus on camera techniques and post-production skills while working within a clear, adaptable framework.

1. Assimilation & Identity Template (Inspired by Purl)

Genre: Workplace drama, social commentary, light satire
Theme: Fitting in vs. staying true to oneself
Structure: Three-act structure with transformation arc

Breakdown

Act 1 – Introduction to the Outsider

Act 2 – Conflict and Conformity

Act 3 – Reclaiming Identity

Adaptations:


2. Unspoken Connection Template (Inspired by The Most Beautiful Thing)

Genre: Drama, romance, emotional storytelling
Theme: Communication, overcoming personal barriers, connection through action rather than words
Structure: Slow-build linear narrative with dramatic irony

Breakdown

Act 1 – The Isolated Protagonist

Act 2 – Building Connection in an Unconventional Way

Act 3 – Emotional Climax & Resolution

Adaptations:


3. Suspense & Realisation Template (Inspired by Selfies Gone Wrong)

Genre: Thriller, horror, suspense
Theme: Unseen dangers, slow realisation, psychological fear
Structure: Linear build-up with shocking final reveal

Breakdown

Act 1 – Ordinary Routine, Hidden Threats

Act 2 – Discovery & Suspense

Act 3 – The Final Reveal & Abrupt End

Adaptations:


How to Use These Templates

By following these blueprints, students can refine their filmmaking skills while working within engaging and effective narrative structures!


Week 4: Sound Design and Editing Basics

This week, we’ll focus on how sound design and editing contribute to storytelling in film. You’ll explore how filmmakers use soundscapes and editing choices to shape meaning, evoke emotions, and guide the audience’s experience. By the end of this week, you’ll have a solid understanding of how sound and editing interact to create engaging films.


What is Sound Design and Editing?

For a detailed understanding of these concepts, refer to the following chapters in Film Art:


Your Tasks This Week


Key Media Terminology

Use these terms in your written analysis:


How to Approach This Question

Here’s how to structure your analysis:


Explanation of Marking

Your written response will be assessed as follows:


Additional Resources


Week 4 Sample Essay

Short-Answer Question:

Question:
Discuss in detail how sound design and editing contribute to storytelling in A Quiet Place (2018). Support your response with specific examples of how silence, sound effects, and editing choices shape meaning and guide audience experience.

Short-Answer Essay with Annotations:

Introduction

In film, sound design and editing are crucial tools for shaping audience perception, evoking emotions, and reinforcing narrative themes. John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place (2018) masterfully uses soundscapes and precise editing to build suspense and emphasize the fragility of human survival in a world where noise attracts deadly creatures. Unlike traditional horror films that rely on jump scares and loud sound cues, A Quiet Place employs silence as a narrative device, making every sound intentional and impactful. This essay will explore how the film’s diegetic and non-diegetic sound, rhythmic editing, and use of silence enhance storytelling.

(Annotation: The introduction establishes the essay’s focus on sound and editing while connecting these elements to the film’s core themes.)


Sound Design: Silence as a Narrative Tool

A Quiet Place subverts conventional sound design by making silence the dominant auditory experience. The absence of background noise and dialogue forces the audience to heighten their sensory awareness, mirroring the characters' experiences. The filmmakers use diegetic sound sparingly, with whispers, muted footsteps, and rustling fabric taking on profound significance. This controlled use of sound creates a hyperrealistic atmosphere, where every sound has life-or-death consequences. For example, the scene where Evelyn Abbott steps on a nail is amplified by the near-complete silence preceding it, making the sound of her muffled pain excruciatingly tense.

(Annotation: This paragraph highlights how A Quiet Place manipulates sound—or the absence of it—to control audience engagement and tension.)


Diegetic vs. Non-Diegetic Sound: Creating Perspective

The film’s diegetic sound—what the characters hear—guides the audience’s understanding of their fragile existence. A unique aspect of A Quiet Place is its shifting auditory perspective, particularly in scenes involving Regan, the deaf daughter. When the film adopts Regan’s auditory perspective, sound becomes completely muted, reinforcing her vulnerability and allowing the audience to experience the horrific silence she lives in. This is contrasted with non-diegetic elements, such as Marco Beltrami’s sparse, eerie score, which punctuates key emotional and suspenseful moments. The music is used minimally, ensuring that natural sounds remain the primary storytelling mechanism.

(Annotation: This paragraph explains how the contrast between what characters hear and what audiences hear creates deeper emotional engagement and thematic weight.)


Editing: Pacing and Suspense Through Silence

Beyond sound design, editing plays a critical role in maintaining tension. The film employs long takes and slow pacing, allowing moments of silence to stretch uncomfortably, forcing the audience into the characters’ fearful anticipation. However, during intense sequences—such as the climax in the flooded basement—the editing accelerates, cutting rapidly between different perspectives to heighten the sense of imminent danger. The match-on-action editing between different family members in various locations creates a cohesive sense of shared peril, uniting their silent struggles.

(Annotation: This paragraph connects editing techniques, such as pacing and continuity editing, to the film’s ability to manipulate audience tension.)


Conclusion

Through its innovative use of sound design and editing, A Quiet Place transforms silence into a storytelling device, where sound is not just an element of atmosphere but a central part of the plot. By employing diegetic and non-diegetic contrasts, shifting perspectives, and precisely timed editing, the film creates an immersive, emotionally charged experience that redefines horror cinema. The film demonstrates that what is not heard can be just as powerful as what is, proving that silence can be the loudest storyteller of all.

(Annotation: The conclusion synthesizes the analysis, reinforcing how sound and editing choices define the film’s impact and effectiveness.)

Week 5: Project Development and Pre-Production Planning

This week, you’ll deepen your understanding of the planning phase in filmmaking by studying how pre-production ensures both creative and practical success. You’ll explore how filmmakers use storyboards, shot lists, and production design to shape their creative vision and prepare for filming. By the end of this week, you’ll understand the key elements of effective pre-production.


What is Pre-Production?

Pre-production is the process of planning all aspects of a film before shooting begins. It encompasses creative preparation, such as refining the script and creating storyboards, as well as logistical preparation, such as planning schedules, locations, and equipment.

To understand these concepts, refer to the following chapters in Film Art:


Your Tasks This Week


Key Media Terminology

Use the following terms in your written analysis:


How to Approach This Question


Explanation of Marking

Your written response will be assessed based on the following criteria:

1. Understanding of Pre-Production (6 marks)

2. Use of Evidence (3 marks)

3. Use of Media Terminology (2 marks)


Additional Resources


Some inspiration as you start brainstorming your short film.

Richard Eames is an excellent independent Perth Filmmaker.

Week 6: Art Direction

Week 6: Art Direction

This week focuses on the creative decisions behind a film's visual identity, known as art direction. Students will explore how elements like sets, props, costumes, and color palettes shape a film’s storytelling, mood, and, critically, its themes. Through an analysis of The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) by Wes Anderson and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) by Guillermo del Toro, students will examine how art direction reinforces a film’s central themes, preparing them for their own thematic exploration in their practical projects.


What is Art Direction?

Art direction refers to the visual planning and execution of a film’s design, including sets, props, costumes, and color schemes. Art direction does more than create beautiful visuals—it plays a crucial role in reinforcing a film’s themes by aligning every visual element with the story’s deeper meaning.

For additional context, refer to the following chapters in Film Art:


Your Tasks This Week


Key Media Terminology

In your written analysis, incorporate the following terms to connect art direction with theme:


How to Approach This Question


Explanation of Marking

Your response will be assessed as follows:


Additional Resources

Response Task 1

Preparation for Written Response Task 1

This week consolidates the learning from Weeks 1–6, preparing students to demonstrate their analytical skills in their first formal short answer written assessment. The assessment will challenge students to apply Media Art concepts to the films and ideas explored so far. After the assessment, students will focus on reviewing and refining their pre-production plans for their short film projects.


Goals

What to Expect


Key Learning Outcomes

By the end of Week 7, students will:


Additional Resources for Revision


Sample Short-Answer Response Task Answer

Question:

How does mise-en-scène contribute to the thematic depth of a film you have studied? Use specific examples to support your analysis.

Sample Response:

Mise-en-scène contributes significantly to the thematic depth of Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) by visually reinforcing the film’s central themes of nostalgia, decay, and the clash between order and chaos. Anderson uses carefully curated visual elements, including production design, color palettes, props, and costumes, to transport audiences into a world that reflects both the grandeur of a past era and its inevitable decline.

One key element of mise-en-scène is the hotel’s production design. The grand lobby is a masterpiece of symmetry, with pastel tones of pink, red, and gold highlighting the opulence of the hotel’s heyday. These colors evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia, symbolizing the cultural refinement and elegance of the pre-war era. In stark contrast, the same lobby in later scenes is shown with muted tones and stripped-back details, reflecting the gradual erosion of tradition and order in a world moving toward chaos and brutality. This transformation visually parallels the broader thematic exploration of the loss of innocence and civility.

Props are another crucial component of mise-en-scène that enhances thematic meaning. Mendl’s bakery boxes, which appear throughout the film, are intricately decorated with delicate pastel designs, representing sweetness and fragility. These props not only serve as a recurring motif but also symbolize the fleeting beauty of the old world. Their prominence in key scenes, such as when Gustave delivers them as bribes, underscores their thematic significance as emblems of grace and charm amidst turmoil.

Costume design also contributes to the film’s thematic depth. Gustave’s perfectly tailored purple suit reflects his personal commitment to maintaining decorum and tradition in a world that increasingly disregards such values. His suit becomes a symbol of his character’s resilience against societal decay, reinforcing the idea that individuals can embody grace and order even when surrounded by chaos. In contrast, the drab, utilitarian uniforms of the military characters emphasize the oppressive nature of modernity, creating a clear dichotomy between refinement and authoritarianism.

Together, these elements of mise-en-scène work cohesively to immerse audiences in a richly stylized world where every visual detail supports the film’s themes. By juxtaposing vibrant colors and intricate designs with muted tones and stark minimalism, Anderson crafts a poignant commentary on the inevitability of change and the beauty of preserving cultural identity in the face of its decline. This use of mise-en-scène not only enhances the film’s visual appeal but also deepens its thematic resonance, leaving audiences with a lasting impression of both its artistry and its message.


Annotations

Understanding of Concepts (6 Marks)

Use of Evidence (3 Marks)

Use of Media Terminology (2 Marks)


Why This Response is Strong

This expanded response is approximately 1–1.5 pages in length, suitable for a timed short answer task of 20–25 minutes.