1 Music and Meaning in Film Free Online FlashCards

What is a film soundtrack?

A film’s complete audio track, including music, dialogue, sound effects, and ambient sounds.

What is a film score?

Music composed or selected to accompany a film. An original score is often written to fit particular scenes.

What does diegetic mean in film sound?

A sound with an apparent source within the story world, such as a song playing on a character’s phone.

What does non-diegetic mean in film sound?

A sound presented for the audience that has no apparent source in the story world, such as an orchestral cue characters cannot hear.

Can a film song be diegetic or non-diegetic?

A song can be diegetic, such as music playing on a radio characters can hear, or non-diegetic, accompanying a scene for the audience.

How can a soundtrack change the meaning of an unchanged image?

Changing the soundtrack can make the same image seem peaceful, lonely, or threatening because sound and image work together to create meaning.

How can music set a scene’s mood?

Music can establish a scene’s emotional character; for example, a sustained dissonant sound may make a quiet scene feel uneasy.

How can music guide viewers’ expectations?

A rise in volume or intensity may signal danger or prepare viewers for a revelation; withholding music can make a moment feel exposed or uncertain.

What is a musical motif in film?

A recurring melody or musical gesture that links a character, place, relationship, or idea across different moments.

What can a changed return of a musical motif suggest?

A motif returning in a changed form may suggest that the story or character has changed.

How can a song add context or commentary to a film scene?

A song can establish a period or setting, while its lyrics or familiar cultural associations can contrast with or comment on the onscreen action.

What do Foley artists contribute to film sound?

Sound design shapes and combines a film’s sound elements. Foley artists create or reproduce sounds such as footsteps and rustling clothes.