Exam Questions #3 Flashcards
What is usually meant by semantic music composition or instrument?
Semantic music attempts to evoke certain assocations through the music, just as symbols convey meaning. One example is the Arabic style of music for Ben Redic Fy Fazan in Flåklypa
What does emotive and literate sound mean?
Emotive sound: Use of music or sound that evokes strong emotions or feelings in the audience. Helps to intensify a scene, set a mood, or create a deep connection with the narrative
Literate sound: Music and sound that is purposefully integrated into the storytelling. Used to enhance the narrative, character development, and thematic elements of the film. It serves to convey information, create atmosphere and highlight key moments
What is mickey-mousing effect in film?
Also known as synchronous sound. It is when the music imitates the action in the film. Matching movement with music, mirroring action
What is the scoring approach in Spielberg’s Jaws (1975)? And why does music have a strong emotional impact?
This film was scored so that we feel the impact of the shark’s attack, without ever seeing the shark fully. It is done with suspensful and dramatic music, that highlights the drama of the plot
The aesthetics of electronic music in films: What emotional signification can be drawn from “Forbidden Planet” and “Blade Runner”?
Electronic music helps to give a futuristic and science-fiction feel over the soundtrack, which is the essence of these films
What are the advantages and disadvantages of not using music in film?
Advantages: Sets more focus on other elements such as visuals, story and even soundtrack elements outside of music. Becomes perhaps more authentic to what happens in the scene
Disadvantages: Loss of emotional connection through music and musical semantics. Can make scenes less interesting, longer and straight out boring. Loss of tone and feel of the scene that goes beyond the visuals and storytelling
The Coen Brothers approach to filmmaking, in the context of unity between images and sounds?
As in “No Country for Old men, there is the minimalistic and atmospheric approach, giving a lot of space for ambient sounds as well as the sounds of the enviroment and characters in moments of suspense
Explain the concept of the big five studios - MGM, paramount Pictures, RKO, Warner Bros., and 20th Century Fox - monopoly in the Hollywood Golden Age time between 1930s and 1950s
These five held rights to the pictures, had leading stars in multi-year contracts, and even owned all major theatres. They truly owned the industry during this time. They owned the camera equipment and studio lots. They owned all aspects from production to distribution
New Wave Hollywood features new trends in filmmaking, both in sound and film language. Identify three main elements with examples
Twist end: unexpected endings, surprising and unique
Character complexity: Existentialism, not just good and bad, layers of personality and complexity
New approach to scoring: Pop, jazz, electronic and rock music enters the scoring, making the music more tied to the youth culture. Furthermore, more experimental music was introduced to counterweight the more traditional orchestra of the old
The concept of integrity between sound and music in the 21st century filmmaking. How is the soundtrack in Coen Brother’s “No Country for Old Men” constructed?
Instead of going with a classic approach to scoring, it is minimalistic and atmospheric. It is silent and ambient. It serves to create tensions and a sense of unease.
