Mise-en-scene

• What do the shorts display of Keaton's fascination?

  His fascination for engineering and gadgets
• What is one of Keaton's trademarks?

  Mechanical comedy, where mechanical objects are used and may take a dual purpose
• What is an example of Mechanical comedy?

  In 'The High sign' , household furniture and parts of the house take on additional functions such as the floor having a trap door

  In 'Scarecrow', all the mechanical objects in the house take on dual functions, exploited for comic effect such as a the gramophone player which functions as a oven
• How is the Mise-en-scene displayed? Examples?

  Symmetry

  'The high sign', here the house resembles a dolls' house, with the screen split into four in perfect symmetry, enabling the audience to witness what is happening in each room of the house simultaneously
• What do the props and objects also function as? Examples?

  Function as characters and appear to take on a life of their own

  The houses in One week, The high sign, and The Scarecrow, all seem to come to life.

  The house in One week, seems to conspire against Keaton and his bride. The hurricane causes the house to revolve manically, a gag for which Keaton ingeniously used a giant turntable
• What is the illusion of objects?

  Impose to appear larger than they do in reality
• What did Keaton utilise around objects? Examples?

  He utilised his small frame, appearing in front or next to large objects.

  The merry-go-round and the train in The High Sign appear large and imposing. Likewise, the ever-expanding newspaper engulfs Keaton for absurd comic effect