Key Terms and Concepts: (This should be detailed notes for your assigned section. This should also include reference images or diagrams for visual concepts. Links can be embedded as well for terms that may require further explanation.)

1.Dramatic context is usually the determining factor in composition ( The setting for dramatic work that includes the who, where, and when of an activity)

2. Film maker might throw off the visual balance to present an image that is more psychologically more appropriate.

3. The eye can detect as many as seven or eight major elements of a composition simultaneously.

4. The eye is guided to a certain area through use of a dominant contrast – the dominant.
5. After the dominant is taken in the eye scans thesubsidiary contrasts that the artist has placed there to act as
counterbalancing devices.
6. The dominant is usually movement or intrinsic interest.
7. Upper part of composition is heavier (see 2-17)
Landscape is seldom divided horizontally at the midpoint of a composition, or the sky would appear to opress the earth.

8. Space that exists in the diegesis but that is not visible in the frame. Offscreen space becomes significant when the viewer's attention is called to an event or presence in the diegesis that is not visible in the frame. Offscreen space is commonly exploited for suspense in horror and thriller films
Video for Off-screen space

9. Isolated figures and objects tend to be heavier than those in a cluster. (see 3-13)
10. Certain lines suggest directional movement.
Horizontal lines - left to right
Vertical lines - bottom to top
Diagonal or Oblique lines - tend to sweep upward.
11. Artists have favored skeletal structures such as S and X shapes, triangular designs, and circles because they are thought to be inherently beautiful.
Binary structures emphasize parallelism
Review Questions: (Minimum of 5 critical thinking questions. Group should be able to respond to their own questions during their presentation)

1. What can a director use to influence the audience to look at a certain point?

2. What are weights to visual artist?

3. Why are most weights located in the lower portions of the screen?

4. How would a director create visual confusion in an image?

5. What do lights and camera serve in a scene's mise en scene?

6. Why are certain objects in a scene emphasized and what do they do for the mood?

7. How do certain films create a certain mise en scene using lights, camera angles, and object placement?

8. How do mise en scenes help develop the character in the scene or movie?

Reference Films: (Include title, year of production and reason for reference.
Macbeth (USA/Britiain, 1971) The eye is first attracted to a dominant contrast that compels our most immediate attention. The eye is initially attracted to the face of the lady, which is lit in high contrast and is surrounded by darkness.











BIG(USA, 1988) Director overloads the compostion to produce a sense of visual chaos.












Okaeri(Japan, 1995) THe setting dominates most extreme long shots. Humans are dwarfed into visual unsignificance, making them appear unimportant and invulnerable.











Yojimbo(Japan, 1961) Isolated figures and objects ten to be heavier than those in a cluster.













The 400 Blows(France, 1959) An image composed of tense diagonals can suggest the character's inner turmoil.












Igby Goes Down(USA, 2002) Triadic compositions stress the dynamic interplay among three main elements.















The Decline of the American Empire(Canada, 1986) Circular compositions can suggest security, enclosure, the female principle.












Superman(USA/Britain, 1978) Director keeps hirozon above middle of the compositions because the top of the frame is so heavy.











Links: (Minimum of 5 links with a brief description that relate to key terms, films, concepts, artisits, films, etc...)
1. Balance in Composition
2. Fine Arts K-7: Glossary and Approaches to Instruction


Bigue's Additions
Composition and Design

1. Filmmakers are concerned with arrangement of shapes, colors, lines and textures on a flat rectangular surface.
2. Although balance is the norm in most human enterprise, in order to create a feeling of disequilibrium, many standard conventions of “Classical” composition are deliberately violated.
3. Variety of techniques can be used to convey ideas and emotions…visual methods, dialogue, editing, or acting. Whatever works is best.
4. The eye automatically attempts to harmonize the formal elements of a composition into a unified whole.
5. The dominant is that area of an image that automatically draws our attention because of a compelling contrast. The part of the image that stands out. Light or color can be used to create this emphasis. Visual interest corresponds with the dramatic interest of the story.
6. Subsidiary contrasts- visual artists knowingly structure their images so that the viewer will follow a specific sequence. The subsidiary contrasts are the objects your eyes scan to after the dominant.
7. Intrinsic Interest- implies that the audience through the context of the story, knows that an object is more important dramatically than it appears to be visually. Motion can also develop this.
8. Visual Confusion can come from having more than 8 or 9 compositional elements.
9. Weight- is a term used to describe balance of compositional elements.
10. We tend to scan images from the right to the left especially in Classical compostions and the top of the frame is “heavier” than the bottom.
11. Compositional forms can be used to emphasize symbolic concepts- 2 shots for couples, doubles, or shared space. Triadic comps stress dynamic interplay among 3 elements…Circular compositions = security, enclosure…
12. Design is fused with thematic idea or intent…form is symbolic