Abstract
In this study, sound and music are examined for their narrative properties in film, with their influence on generating meaning in concurrence with images. But it is the absence of music and dialogues that is the focus of the investigation: the subtle yet present audio signal captured by the microphone. The methodology includes case studies of mainly independent movies with analyses of selected sequences that rely on audio for narrativity purposes—within specific scenes, or in the entire work. Film sound plays a significant role in communicating emotions. The logic of the storyworld can be conveyed through audio in a suggested manner. Music has the power to manipulate the perception of time. Additionally, audio has the ability to create connections between the different scenes, so that the narrative is granted a sense of development, without necessarily relying on cause-and-effect. Film sound can influence the narrative and its perception by creating an implied dimension to the movie that is created by audio alone. Besides, a soundtrack can construct the space and time in which the story takes place. It generates the film’s atmosphere, and by doing so, characterizes the mode of perception of the story. But silence and lack of conversations can create a unique tone, generate meaning and communicate a sensorial message to the audience. In this perspective, the sensorial dimension of storytelling can be directly informed by sound, including rests, and silence.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Film, Cinema, Music, Sound, Art, Narrative
