Religious Studies of the Media

Religious Studies of the Media

A comparative study of the function of mise-en-scène for the portrayal of the innocent in the series Imam Ali and the film Muhammad Rasulullah

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Media Arts, Faculty of Religion and Media, IRIB University, Qom, Iran
2 Master of Arts in Television Production, Department of Media Arts, Faculty of Religion and Media, IRIB University, Qom, Iran
10.22034/jmrs.2025.492167.1219
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this research is to conduct a comparative study of the function of mise-en-scène in depicting the infallible characters in two prominent works of cinema and television, namely the Imam Ali (peace be upon him) series and the Muhammad (peace be upon him) film. The present research examines the methods of utilizing visual and motion elements such as set design, costume design, lighting, and facial features in representing the infallibles.
Research Methodology: In this research, a comparative analysis of the use of mise-en-scène in the two aforementioned works has been conducted. Data has been collected through observation and analysis of the scenes and visual and motion aspects of both works. The central approach in this method is the neoformalist approach to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the director in using mise-en-scène in both works.
Findings: The results of the analysis show that in the Imam Ali series, the director has focused more on visual aspects such as set design, costumes, and lighting, but the use of facial features and other mise-en-scène components in this work is weak. This series has made less use of the more complex aspects of mise-en-scène and has paid more attention to simpler visual aspects. While in the film Muhammad Rasoolullah, the director was able to use all the tools of mise-en-scène effectively, especially in the set design and lighting that effectively highlighted the spiritual characteristics of the infallible characters and added to its impact.
Conclusion: According to this research, the film Muhammad Rasoolullah is an outstanding example of the comprehensive and effective use of mise-en-scène in depicting infallible characters. This is while the series Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and other television works are currently in a stage of developing the use of mise-en-scène to depict religious characters. The present study deals with the evolution of this tool in cinema and television and its impact on audience perception.
Keywords


Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 16 December 2025