Which option is NOT a typical mise-en-scène cue signaling social class?

• A. Set design
• B. Props
• C. Lighting
• D. Soundtrack

Answer: (D)

Mise-en-scène signaling social class relies on what is visible in the frame—the space, the objects, and how light shapes our perception of those elements. Set design communicates wealth or deprivation directly through the room’s style, scale, and upkeep. Props reveal status through the kinds of objects characters interact with or display, from luxury items to everyday possessions. Lighting helps cue class through how clearly or harshly the space is lit, the use of shadows, and the overall mood it creates about the surroundings.

Soundtrack sits outside the visible arrangement of the scene. It’s part of the film’s audio layer and informs mood or character themes, but it isn’t a physical element within the shot itself. So, while music can suggest cultural capital or social cues, it isn’t a typical mise-en-scène cue signaling social class.