Monday, 31 October 2011

Sound

To make a change from the representation essays - I would like you to discuss the use of sound (non and diegetic).

The clip is the extended version of Thriller by Michael Jackson.



·                    Diegetic sound: It is sound that the characters can hear as well as the audience, and usually implies a reaction from the character. Also called "literal sound" or "actual sound":
o                               Voices of characters;
o                               Sounds made by objects in the story; and/or like heart beats of a person
o                               Source music, represented as coming from instruments in the story space.
o                               Basic sound effects, e.g. dog barking, car passing; as it is in the scene
o                               Music coming from reproduction devices such as record players, radios, tape players etc.

·                    Non-diegetic sound: It is sound which is represented as coming from a source outside the story space, i.e. its source is neither visible on the screen, nor has been implied to be present in the action. Also called "non-literal sound" or "commentary sound":
o                               Narrator's commentary;
o                               Voice of God;
o                               Sound effect which is added for dramatic effect;
o                               Mood music; and
o                               Film Score
Non-diegetic sound plays a significant role in creating the atmosphere and mood within a film. (or other Media)
Very commonly diagetic shift occurs from one to the other, for example when characters are listening to music, then start dancing and the music becomes non-diagetic to indicate being 'lost in the moment'.

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