Week 10: Mise-en-Scene

Gossip Girl (2007-2012)

Season 4 Episode 8

I watched the TV show Gossip Girl and looked and into consideration several factors of Mise-en-Scene such as setting, lighting,  costume, and staging. 

The setting showed the significance because the characters are forced to interact in the big city of New York. However,  Serena and several other characters of the shows that are in the central area of Columbia University. the setting is significant because in Gossip Girl their is a contrast between the lavish Upper East Side where Serena, Blair, Nate, and Chuck in comparatively to Dan and Vanessa who live in a studio apartment in Brooklyn. In this episode, all the characters will attend a ballet to expose Juliet who has a personal vendetta against Serena Van der Woodsen. 

Serena at the fountain.

Costumes play a role because they are going to a ballet and all are dress and beautiful formal gowns.

Gowns of Blair, Serena, and Juliet gowns.

Lighting, low light was shown when Vanessa and Juliet are plotting are dark shows the pettiness in the room, where as at the ballet outside by the fountain show was light and vibrant showing the brightness within the scene and the happiness of the characters. The highlight is usual especially since this show is more dramatic than happy.

Vanessa and Juliet plotting.

Performance is the most notable part of this episode from Juliet almost close to redemption when Nate deceives her to believe that he forgave her, the actress ability to make the audience (me) feel bad for her then hate her shows a lot about her performance. Also, Chuck and Blair who provide comic relief by their dysfunctional relationship. My favorite scene when Chuck, Blair, Serena, and Nate exiled Juliet for ruining their lives.

Blair deflecting Juliet attempt to expose Serena to Dean Ruppert. 

Juliet surrounded by Serna, Chuck, Blair, and Nate