Northshore probs

To what extent does the world in the work of art shape the person the character becomes?

 

Mise en scene - the composition, setting, sounds, lighting and props that define a scene also shape the person the character becomes.  We all respond to the world around us. An artist or director has the ability to manipulate the mood of the scene, the subject(s) and the audience by controlling the mise en scene.  

 

Weather can immediately set a tone: sunny=happy, foggy=mysterious, rainy=lazy, stormy=sinister.  A character’s outlook likely relates to the weather clues.  Lighting, similar to weather, is fairly universal in its meaning; bright=good and dark=bad in simple terms.  Scenes are often lit to highlight the hero in a bright light and the villain in a dark light.  The same background can be dramatically changed by altering the weather and/or the lighting.

 

The sound in a scene elicits a great emotional response from both the character and the audience as well.  Heavy piano music always creates suspense.  Characters typically respond with cautious movements, suspicion, and fear.  Chirpy piano music, on the other hand, might cause a character to walk with a skip in her step, carefree and hopeful.  The music is definitely chosen with regard to the character’s frame of mind.

 

The props and costumes in a scene also define the characters.  The clothing can suggest an occupation (scrubs=doctor/nurse), age (trendy fashions=teenager, “mom jeans”=middle-aged), or social standing (certain jewelry=wealth, ratty shoes=low-income).  All of these are carefully chosen in a film to complete the character’s image.

 

My physical surroundings also play a factor in my formation.  My home is comfortable and casual, and kind of unorganized.  So am I.  My school is intense and competitive.  So am I.  The people in my world have shaped me as well; I’ve absorbed values from my family and humor my friends.  As a northshore teen and New Trier student, I'm getting ready to go to college and taking my "northshore probs" with me. I'll meet new people from new places with their version of probs and we'll influence each other.  My world will continue to shape and change me as I grow and adjust to my environment.