Sound analysis on film posters.

Sound Analysis

Task 1:

• Watch and listen carefully to the following opening of Funny Games (2001) directed by Michael Haneke.

1. What is the director saying about the family from the choice of music played?
2. How would you describe this use of music?
3. How do you think the narrative might develop?

1- The director saying from the choice of music played that they are very intellectual. Most likely to be rich. They are also very calm and collective. They seem to also be traditional and educated.

2- The use of the music was calm and parallel. As this is classical music, it could represent that they are quite old-fashioned.

3- The narrative may develop into their calmness and close knit bond being disrupted. By the change of music becoming contrapuntal, it shows that their may be events happening that goes again their norms and values.

• Watch and listen carefully to the following extract from Clockwork Orange (1971), directed by Stanley Kubrick.

1. Discuss the choice of music. Is it the kind of music you would expect for this scene?
2. Why do you think the director used this piece to go with the action on the screen?

1- The choice of music is very classical and calm, there is a sense of piece and intellectualism is presents. This is not the kind of music expected for this scene as there is quite a lot of violence and havoc.

2- The director may have used this piece of music to go with the action on the screen to show psychotic behaviour as the music is contrapuntal which could show that the main character has a mental illness as the music is supposed to be for a calm setting but instead is for a chaotic one.

• Watch and listen carefully to the following extract from Once Upon A Time In The West (1968), directed by Sergio Leone.

1. What sounds do you hear? How do they help to build up tension?
2. Can you identify the sound bridge? What is the effect on the audience?

1- There are various sounds, there are sounds like creaking, windmills turning, the wind, a tape recorder rolling and other various things. This builds up causes tension as it is mostly quiet and all these sounds cause mystery and curiosity.

2- The sound bridge is when the tape recorder is rolling and we are not yet able to see it and the other sound bridge is when the train is approaching and you can hear the steam of the train. This has an effect on the audience as it makes the audience wander and become confused on what the sound could be.

• Watch and listen carefully to the following extract from Once Upon A Time In America (1984), directed by Sergio Leone.

1. Discuss what sound is diegetic and what is non-diegetic.
2. How does the director use the sound of the phone to link the narrative?

1- The sounds that are diegetic are - The clinking of the bowel, The champain popping

The sounds that are non-diegetic are - The music playing, The phone ringing, The fire department siren, The loud noise at the end.

2- The director uses the phone to link to the narrative as the phone represents the amount of people calling because of an accident going on and also the phone shows that there are people oblivious to what is happening as the sound of the phone keeps on playing throughout when there is a party going on.



Task 2: 

Find a film clip on YouTube that uses sound in an interesting way. Analyse the use of sound, making sure you use the key language we have learned about sound in film:

• Diegetic and non-diegetic sound
• Parallel and contrapuntal sound
• Sound bridges

Remember to discuss/analyse all the different types of sound present in the clip:

• Music
• Dialogue
• Voiceover
• Sound effects

You also need to highlight or put in bold any use of media language.

Clip:

This film clip uses sound in an interesting way as it isn't normal sound you would hear from a scene like this.

Diegetic and Non- Diegetic.

The non - diegetic sounds in this video is the loudness of the music and the sound effects of the main guy shuffling when he dances. The sound is amplified. Also, the sound effect of the sawing of the man's ear is non - diegetic. Whereas, the dialogue is diegetic and also the sound effects of the movements of the characters. 

Parallel and contrapuntal sound.

In this video, the main focus is the use of contrapuntal sound. The song that is presented is very laid back and happy which does not reflect what is going on in the video which is violence. Also, the lyrics of the song present an irony as the lyrics are: 

Well, I don't know why I came here tonight

I got the feeling that something ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair,
And I'm wondering how I'll get down those stairs

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

And this reflects what is going on in the video although the aim of the song is about something else. This therefore highlights the abnormality of music choice and shows that it does not fit what is going on in the clip.

Sound bridges

There are