Sound is generally included within nearly all modern movies, and is usually used to create more understanding of the situation happening within the movie scene/situation.
Purpose of sound
As well as sound being used to help create more understanding for the audience watching a scene of a movie, it is also used to both represent the status of the situation unfolding. (for example; a fast paced soundtrack being added into a fight scene in a movie)
It can also be used as a way to represent characters, both to reflect off their personaility, role and importantance in the movie, and sometimes their feelings in a scene.
Different sound types
Diegetic sound - Sound which is suitable and matches to the current scene and what we as a audience expect to hear when certain actions take place. (Gun shots while a gun is being fired, the impact of a punch when it hits a character in a fight scene, etc)
Non-diegetic sound - Sound which does not relate to the current scene in the movie and what the audience does not expect to hear, one main example include soundtracks of the movie that are played within certain parts of the scene .
On-screen sound - This is sound which we can both hear and see the source/what is causing it, one example can include can be a character is holding a gun which after a few seconds he fires it which then in turn creates the sound of a gun shot, since we can see both the source of the sound and hear the sound of the gun being shot, we consider this a On-screen sound. (and in this case, diegetic sound as well)
Off-screen sound - This is sound which we can hear, but cannot see the source/what has caused the sound. In a quick summary it is the opposite of On-screen sound, an example of off-screen sound can involve a car alarm going off outside the house, we can hear the car alarm going off but we cannot physically see the car which is the source of this noise.
Parallel sound - This is when the sound we hear in a film is exactly what we was expecting in the current scene, a good few examples of this can include; the sound of waves/the ocean on a beach, the sound of children playing/laughing while at a playground, etc.
Contrapuntal sound - Is when the sound in the scenes do not match the expectations of what we are viewing, a example of this can be in the movie "Jaws" on the beach scene, where the soundtrack is played by which in turn the shark makes its appearance while the soundtrack is still being played.
Jonathan, you have identified the sounds used in films with use of the correct terminology. Your introduction of sound is also good as you discuss the impact on the audience and the purpose of sound.
ReplyDeleteTo develop your work, you should choose an example of a thriller to analyse in terms of sound, by identifying at least three examples, and discuss the impact of its use by using the PEER formula.
You should also provide a brief summary to how sounds are used conventionally in a thriller and discuss how this post and analysis of sound has helped you develop ideas about what sounds you will use in your own thriller.