Perhaps someone can help...

Kindling · April 16, 2009, 10:23:11 AM

I'm writing an essay on sound and music in film at the moment, and I focussed to begin with in the idea of tension and release, and how, in film music, it can be applied to much more than just harmony.

In the second section I'm looking at absence and presence, or, the expected and the unexpected, and how those concepts are explored by film composers.

I need a third section, though... not out of any kind of structural thing, just because I don't think I'll have enough to say in the second section to bring it up to the required word count.

So, does anyone have any suggestions on what the third section should focus on? Another angle to film music that I could explore? All suggestions are welcome :)

Superfluous Crow · April 16, 2009, 12:24:41 PM

Maybe something on the theme song of the movie?
Or something about how music can change a scene? So that a scary scene can be made benign or something similar.

Seraph · April 16, 2009, 12:44:16 PM

You could say something about the artistic meaning of a scene and how it is affected by the music. Music can be a subtle indicator in a film or in a dramatic work, that helps provide another layer of meaning when properly executed.

Kindling · April 16, 2009, 03:51:58 PM

Quote from: Seraphine_HarmoniumYou could say something about the artistic meaning of a scene and how it is affected by the music. Music can be a subtle indicator in a film or in a dramatic work, that helps provide another layer of meaning when properly executed.

The artistic meaning... I see where you're coming from, but I find it a little too vague... in a way, this is almost the topic for the entire essay. What I need is something more specific I can use for an individual section, something to focus on.

Quote from: Cataclysmic CrowMaybe something on the theme song of the movie?
Or something about how music can change a scene? So that a scary scene can be made benign or something similar.

The benign/scary thing, I already mentioned in the first section, as an example of tension and release, but the use of themes and leitmotifs is an interesting area I may well look into. Thanks :)

Steerpike · April 16, 2009, 03:55:12 PM

My girlfriend (a violist who happens to have taken several film courses) suggests you talk about ambience or ambient sounds... or about instrumentation (i.e. violins for romance, trombones for suspense, or what-have-you). Or the use of popular music instead of soundtracked/specially composed music for film.

Seraph · April 16, 2009, 05:02:29 PM

Quote from: Kindling
Quote from: Seraphine_HarmoniumYou could say something about the artistic meaning of a scene and how it is affected by the music. Music can be a subtle indicator in a film or in a dramatic work, that helps provide another layer of meaning when properly executed.

The artistic meaning... I see where you're coming from, but I find it a little too vague... in a way, this is almost the topic for the entire essay. What I need is something more specific I can use for an individual section, something to focus on.

Well, yeah, when talking about music as an element of film in general it can be difficult. It would be easier to discuss how music affected the artistic meaning in a particular film, or even better, the meaning of a particular moment in a particular film. Talking about how music affects meaning in all films is probably too broad. I don't know if it would be appropriate to discuss this with just a particular example. . .

SDragon · April 16, 2009, 07:41:41 PM

Quote from: SteerpikeMy girlfriend (a violist who happens to have taken several film courses) suggests you talk about ambience or ambient sounds... or about instrumentation (i.e. violins for romance, trombones for suspense, or what-have-you). Or the use of popular music instead of soundtracked/specially composed music for film.

I was thinking of suggesting a bit about the contrast between these.

In any case, you have an excuse to watch the first few Halloween movies. They're research, of course.

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Perhaps someone can help...

Kindling

Superfluous Crow

Seraph

Kindling

Steerpike

Seraph

SDragon