Mapping Mise En Scène Visual Features in Film Studies: A Bibliometric and Knowledge Mapping Study

This study maps the intellectual structure and thematic evolution of research on mise en scene visual features in film studies through bibliometric and knowledge mapping methods. Drawing on records retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection between January 1, 2022 and May 30, 2026, the study applies CiteSpace and VOSviewer to examine publication trends, productive authors, core journals, country collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, keyword clustering, and keyword timeline evolution. The results show that research on film visual features has developed into a cross-disciplinary field that connects film aesthetics, visual style, audience perception, cognitive processing, cultural representation, and emerging computational methods. Core themes include aesthetic appreciation, perception, style, attention, performance, visual information processing, deep learning, image generation, and aesthetic modelling. The findings indicate that the field is moving from traditional aesthetic and textual interpretation toward a broader research framework integrating film studies, cognitive psychology, visual culture, digital humanities, and artificial intelligence. This study provides a systematic overview of the knowledge base, research hotspots, and future directions of mise en scene visual feature research.

mise en scene; visual style; film aesthetics; bibliometric analysis; knowledge mapping; CiteSpace; VOSviewer

1. Arnold, T., & Tilton, L. (2019). Distant viewing: Analyzing large visual corpora. Digital Scholarship in the Humanities, 34(Supplement_1), i3–i16. https://doi.org/10.1093/llc/fqz013 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Bordwell, D., Thompson, K., & Smith, J. (2020). Film art: An introduction (12th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Borgohain, D. J., Verma, M. K., Nazim, M., & Sarkar, M. (2021). Application of Bradford’s law of scattering and Leimkuhler model to information science literature. COLLNET Journal of Scientometrics and Information Management, 15(1), 197–212. https://doi.org/10.1080/09737766.2021.1943041 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Chen, C. (2006). CiteSpace II: Detecting and visualizing emerging trends and transient patterns in scientific literature. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 57(3), 359–377. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.20317 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Ding, X., & Yang, Z. (2022). Knowledge mapping of platform research: A visual analysis using VOSviewer and CiteSpace. Electronic Commerce Research, 22, 787–809. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-020-09410-7 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Gibbs, J. (2002). Mise-en-scène: Film style and interpretation. Wallflower Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Khuan, H., Bakri, A. A., & Lusianawati, H. (2023). Sustainability and corporate social responsibility in digital platform companies. West Science Journal Economic and Entrepreneurship, 1(08), 358–367. https://doi.org/10.58812/wsjee.v1i03.152 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Manovich, L. (2020). Cultural analytics. The MIT Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. van Eck, N. J., & Waltman, L. (2010). Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping. Scientometrics, 84(2), 523–538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0146-3 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• A Journey Through Craceland: Micro-Ecological Breakdown in Jim Crace’s Being Dead
• The Introvert’s Toolkit
• Explore the Potential Benefits of Popularizing Ink Wash Painting Art Style in Video Games
• “An Worthwhile Review of Niosmes”
• Consumer Behaviour Towards Clothing Brands: Role of Fashion Bloggers and Influencers