Film & TV Language: Sound analysis tasks

Once Upon A Time In The West

This clip contains no dialogue, however, it still manages to tell a story through the use of diegetic & Foley sounds. This sounds include; footsteps, a creaky windmill, cracking of knuckles, a dog and most importantly a train. Each of these sounds is revisited multiple times in the clip to emphasise each component whilst introducing each character and briefly present their personalities. The sound bridge is used when the train is approaching, a sound bridge is only used in this scene, this emphasises that the train arriving is a pivotal point in the narrative. 

Clockwork Orange

Contrapuntal sound is used in this scene. Classical music is played over acts of violence scene to empathise the chaotic and disrupted nature of the main character. A non-diegetic voice over is used to put the audience within the mind of the antagonist. Us as the audience is also given a privilege of knowing that he will harm his counterparts with a knife. 

Funny Games

This clip introduces us to a middle-class family driving in a car. Parallel, diegetic sound is used to portray the family as sophisticated and Traditional. Classical music has connotations of wealth and classiness and they seem very well educated and passionate about it. Contrapuntal sound is then rapidly introduced in a way that creates enigma for the audience as we are unsure whether the contrapuntal sound is diegetic (coming from the stereo) or non-diegetic (added in post-production). Rock/Heavy metal music contrasts to the family's simple and harmonised lifestyle. This could foreshadow a potential event abruptly happening that disrupts their lives.

Life on Mars: 

A mixture of non-diegetic and diegetic sound is used throughout the clip. The diegetic sound comes from the cars engines and the tire skids on the road. This is used to emphasise the high intensity of the car chase. The non-diegetic sound is the music that is considered as an iconographic sound image in action movies, this also portrays the action within the scene. Dialogue is also used to suggest the narrative tot the audience.

Once Upon A Time In America:

Foley sound has been added in post-production to emphasise normal movements ouch as the footsteps, picking up the newspaper and the massage. Dialogue is also used to briefly suggest the narrative to the audience. A sound bridge is used when the ringing of the telephone continues when the scene shifts from being set inside to outside in the rain. The telephone ring is a constant motif throughout the video. 

Spiderman Scene

Non-diegetic music is used to emphasise the unorthodox actions that happen to the main character initially. Foley sound is used to add emphasis to the moments that occur in the clip. Dramatic and suspenseful music is used shortly after the fight scene to highlight and enhance to protagonists confusion