Music and the Media Topic

Background

Activities

Interaction Task

ST 2 MEDIA STUDIES

TOPIC DESCRIPTION

Focus Questions (from SACE Board)

• In their study of this topic, students may consider some or all of the following questions:

• What is the impact of music used in a range of media forms?

• To what extent has Internet file sharing of music challenged traditional music producers, publishers, and distributors?

• How are audiences created for particular forms or styles of music?

• In what ways does music allow individuals to form a group identity?

• In what ways can changes in society be charted through a study of popular music?

• OUR FOCUS WILL BE ON the MOVIE SOUNDTRACK

THE MOVIE SOUNDTRACK • History of music and cinema – from silent cinema to modern scoring

• Types of soundtrack- embedded? Or explicit?

• THE MUSICAL – a history of…

• Orchestration – ie what genre is it? Is it a compilation of exisiting music eg Fantasia, 2001 , the Big Chill etc or written just for the movie eg Star Wars, The Dark Knight and Lord of the Rings, Alien

• Challenging? Ie non-conventional (Planet of the Apes)?

• Effects on an audience – key emotional points

• Personal Interaction with

FILM SCORE VS SOUNDTRACK

A ‘film score’ is the original music that

is heard in a movie. A score is part of the

‘soundtrack’, the rest of the soundtrack

is made from non-original music found in the

film – like songs by the pop stars you know.

WHY DO WE HAVE FILM SCORES?

The purpose of a film score is to enhance

what is happening in a movie – in particular the emotional centre of a scene

. To make the scary

bits scarier, the action more exciting and

the sad bits sadder.

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK POPQUIZ• Listen to the following themes and try to name which movie they are from

• Links to ITUNES Playlist.

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK HISTORY• Read the handout Movie Soundtrack History

• Make notes about what you learnt from reading this article

• List 20 important Movie Composers – both for musical and non-musical films

• Research - Who wrote the score for the following films?

• Lord of the Rings The Dark Knight Star Wars

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Psycho

• What defines a movie as a musical?

COMPOSERS• Research Task – choose a famous movie composer and research their life and work

• Present the findings of your research to the class in a brief 2 – 3 minute presentation

• View the Fellowship of the Ring – making of….Music and Soundtrack

ELEMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL SOUNDTRACKS• What makes for a successful movie score?

• Creates appropriate atmosphere

• Emotional Hook to given scene

• Consistent throughout movie

• Evokes time and place

• Matches the visual elements

• VIEW Lord of Rings Section on Music (Extras Disc 2)

• What other people think? Check out some forum responses to the question..”What makes for a good movie score?”

MOVIE CLIPS WITHOUT SOUND• What sort of music should be used with this clip?

• Explain your reasons

• 1. Opening of Apocalypse Now

• 2. Opening of The Dark Knight

• 3. Fantasia 2000 – New York segment

• 4. Empire Strikes Back – Ice Planet

• 5. Lord of the Rings – The fellowship leaving Rivendell

• ACTIVITY – Copy The Incredibles clip from Common Drive onto a Garageband Movie Track. Mute the existing sound. Add your own score from the Ensemble Music Beds. Share Final work.

CLIPS WITH SOUND• Listen to the same clips , this time with the sound.

• Was the music and soundtrack what you expected? Why or why not?

• What emotions did the music evoke?

• Suggest other possible music for this clip.

• VIEW Fantasia 2000 – Rest of Video

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN SOUNDTRACK ANALYSIS• MUSIC: background music

• Background music is used to add emotion and rhythm to a film. Usually not meant to be noticeable, it often provides a tone or an emotional attitude toward the story and/or the characters depicted. In addition, background music often foreshadows a change in mood. For example, dissonant music may be used in film to indicate an approaching (but not yet visible) menace or disaster.

• Background music may aid viewer understanding by linking scenes. For example, a particular musical theme associated with an individual character or situation may be repeated at various points in a film in order to remind the audience of motifs or ideas.

• Film sound is comprised of conventions and innovations. We have come to expect an acceleration of music during car chases and creaky doors in horror films. Yet, it is important to note as well that sound is often brilliantly conceived. The effects of sound are often largely subtle and often are noted by only our subconscious minds. Yet, it is important for us to foster an awareness of film sound as well as film space so as to truly appreciate this contemporary art form, the modern film.

• . Thomas Sobochack and Vivian Sobochack, An Introduction to Film, p.177

TASK – MOVIE FILM SCORE ANALYSIS (FORMATIVE)

• Your task is to choose a favourite movie or at least one with an interesting score.

• View the movie and analyse the score under the following headings:

• Composer

• Release date of the film – is this a relevant consideration for the score?

• Style/Genre

• Instruments used – this will follow on from the Style/Genre

• Identify key musical themes used for characters eg The Joker in The Dark Knight

• CHOOSE 3 SCENES in particular and discuss:

• How the emotion(s) of the scene is enhanced by the music

• How the scene and its music relate to the rest of the film

• The impact of the music on the audience.

• You will then Choose One of these scenes to present to the class and discuss the music used on Monday Wk 2

INTERACTION TASK

• Your next summative task is the Interaction – as part of your Folio work

• This is worth 10% of your year’s mark

• Task Description

• You are to reflect on in 800 words (Max) or 5 mins oral presentation, your interaction with Movie soundtracks over the years. Use the following as focus questions for your response.

• In what ways have movie soundtracks changed over time?

• List the movie music you like most as a child

• What did you like about the music?

• Was it just cartoons, or did you like movie music from live action films?

• What movie music do you currently like?

• Describe what it is you like about this music.

• Has your taste changed over time? Why or why not?

• What might you like in the future? Do some crystal ball gazing.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR INTERACTION  Knowledge and

UnderstandingResearch and Analysis Communication

A Comprehensive and sustained knowledge and understanding of media structures, issues, concepts, and interactions.

Insightful and informed understanding of facts, opinions, and bias in media texts or products.

Perceptive analysis of interactions with media.

Fluent expression, using consistently clear and appropriate media terminology.

B Well-considered and mostly sustained knowledge and understanding of media structures, issues, concepts, and interactions.

Well-considered and informed understanding of facts, opinions, and bias in media texts or products.

Well-considered analysis of interactions with media.

.Mostly fluent expression, using clear and appropriate media terminology.

C Considered knowledge and understanding of media structures, issues, concepts, and interactions.

Considered and informed understanding of facts, opinions, and bias in media texts or products.

Considered analysis of interactions with media.

Generally fluent expression, using appropriate media terminology.

D Partial knowledge and basic awareness of media structures, issues, concepts, and interactions.

Recognition and some understanding of facts, opinions, and bias in media texts or products.

Description of one or more interactions with media.

.Occasionally clear expression and use of basic media terminology.

E Limited awareness of media structures, issues, concepts, or interactions.

Limited recognition of facts, opinions, or bias in a media text or product.

Attempted description of an interaction with media.

Limited expression or use of basic media terminology.