mise-en-scène

noun

ˌmē-ˌzäⁿ-ˈsen 

-ˈsān

plural mise-en-scènes ˌmē-ˌzäⁿ-ˈsen(z) 

-ˈsān(z)

1

a

: the arrangement of actors and scenery on a stage for a theatrical production

b

: stage setting

2

a

: the physical setting of an action (as of a narrative or a movie) : context

this ordinary house that became the mise-en-scène of an extraordinary drama

—E. M. Lustgarten

b

: environment, milieu

enjoyed the mise-en-scène of suburban Miami

Did you know?

In French, mise en scène literally means “the action of putting onto the stage.” The term originated in stage drama, where it refers to the way actors and scenery props are arranged; as its usage expanded into other narrative arts, its meaning shifted. In film production, mise-en-scène refers to all of the elements that comprise a single shot; that includes, but is not limited to, the actors, setting, props, costumes, and lighting. (The director of a play or film is sometimes called the metteur en scène—literally, “one who puts on the stage.”) In general use, mise-en-scène can refer simply to one’s environment or milieu, as in “we spent our vacation enjoying the mise-en-scène of the Tuscan countryside.”

Synonyms

• decor
• scene
• backdrop
• scenery
• set

Choose the Right Synonym for mise-en-scène

background, setting, environment, milieu, mise-en-scène mean the place, time, and circumstances in which something occurs.

background often refers to the circumstances or events that precede a phenomenon or development.

the shocking decision was part of the background of the riots

setting suggests looking at real-life situations in literary or dramatic terms.

a militant reformer who was born into an unlikely social setting

environment applies to all the external factors that have a formative influence on one's physical, mental, or moral development.

the kind of environment that produces juvenile delinquents

milieu applies especially to the physical and social surroundings of a person or group of persons.

an intellectual milieu conducive to artistic experimentation

mise-en-scène strongly suggests the use of properties to achieve a particular atmosphere or theatrical effect.

a gothic thriller with a carefully crafted mise-en-scène

Examples of mise-en-scène in a Sentence

an era in which the mise-en-scène of Broadway musicals became ever more spectacular

the movie captures the mise-en-scène of strife and desperation in a country torn apart by civil war

Word History

Etymology

French mise en scène

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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