Film Sound and Genre Analysis

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Questions and Answers

What is a significant feature of the film 'Wendy & Lucy'?

It primarily uses non-professional actors. (correct)

It lacks any sounds associated with the plot.

It was filmed entirely in a studio.

It has a highly sentimental plot.

Which aspect connects 'Wendy & Lucy' to modernity?

Depiction of urban life.

Emphasis on trains and American road systems. (correct)

Focus on family relationships.

Use of advanced technology in filming.

How does 'Close-up' address the concept of reenactment?

It presents reenactment as both defying and confirming original moments. (correct)

It avoids discussing the impact of reenactments altogether.

It portrays reenactments as mere imitations.

It implies that reenactments can reflect true reality.

What type of sound technique is employed in 'Wendy & Lucy'?

Presence of diegetic sound only. Signup and view all the answers

In 'Close-up', who primarily serves as a host during the film project?

Sabzian. Signup and view all the answers

What theme does 'Wendy & Lucy' explore about modern American issues?

Economic struggles and hardships. Signup and view all the answers

What is required of the actors in 'Close-up' during the order of filming?

To forgive their portrayal of Sabzian. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the plot of 'Wendy & Lucy'?

It centers around financial struggles and everyday life. Signup and view all the answers

What dual concept is illustrated through hospitality in 'Close-up'?

Compassionate care vs. reciprocity. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of 'Wendy & Lucy' differs from traditional Italian neorealism?

Focus on financial struggles without sentimental elements. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'vococentrism' refer to in film sound analysis?

The tendency to focus on voices and their identification. Signup and view all the answers

How is the concept of the 'acousmêtre' defined?

A disembodied voice that is neither fully inside nor outside of the film. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'deaf cinema' imply about the audience's experience?

The film lacks significant sound elements, creating a disconnect. Signup and view all the answers

What defines melodrama as a modern genre according to Nowell-Smith?

The emphasis on personal and family relationships over royal ones. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of 'the voice’s loss of innocence', what do expressive masks signify?

Manipulative displays of emotions. Signup and view all the answers

What is often the primary focus in the process of instantaneous perceptual triage when listening?

Identifying and categorizing more important sounds first. Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential sinister implication of the 'acousmêtre' in certain genres of film?

It suggests a sense of omniscience that can be unsettling. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of tragedy is contrasted with melodrama in Nowell-Smith's analysis?

Themes centered around kingdoms and true kings. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary theme reflected by Stella's character in 'Stella Dallas'?

The complexities of familial relationships and social class Signup and view all the answers

In 'Night of the Living Dead', what societal transformation does the film critique?

The shift from worker to consumer culture Signup and view all the answers

What narrative shift occurs in 'Night of the Living Dead'?

From Barbara to Ben as the main character Signup and view all the answers

How does 'When a Stranger Calls' portray gender representation?

Depicts the female babysitter as a figure of helplessness Signup and view all the answers

What artistic technique does 'When a Stranger Calls' utilize to create tension?

Silence, tense music, and close-ups of the phone Signup and view all the answers

What major social critique is presented through the ghouls in 'Night of the Living Dead'?

A reflection of the impact that consumerism has on humanity Signup and view all the answers

What emotional impact does the still imagery in 'Night of the Living Dead' convey?

A lasting emotional impact related to loss and death Signup and view all the answers

What does Stella's final sacrifice in 'Stella Dallas' represent?

The ultimate act of love for her child Signup and view all the answers

Which theme does Haskell identify in the context of 'woman’s film' as represented in 'Stella Dallas'?

Affliction of the social class system Signup and view all the answers

In 'When a Stranger Calls', how is the cultural expectation of answering the phone portrayed?

As a dangerous and intrusive social norm Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary focus of melodrama as discussed in the content?

The failure of female characters to align with male ideals Signup and view all the answers

How does the genre of horror comment on familial structures?

It critiques stereotypical families as oppressive. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'indexicality' refer to in realism?

A material trace of a unique occurrence. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of neorealism, what is a key characteristic of plots?

They often lack traditional resolutions. Signup and view all the answers

What does Williams suggest is missed when critics label bodily reactions as 'gratuitous'?

An understanding of genre's emotional engagement. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is NOT true of the monster in horror as mentioned?

It is often depicted as purely evil. Signup and view all the answers

What is a critique made about the traditional representation of animals in film?

They reveal aspects of human character. Signup and view all the answers

What key feature distinguishes neorealist films from others?

On-location shooting. Signup and view all the answers

What does Nichols describe as not necessarily being verisimilar?

Truth in cinematic narrative. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of melodrama, which of these is emphasized according to the discussed content?

Heightened emotional experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the consequences of societal repression in horror narratives?

It leads to the emergence of the monster. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pairs best characterizes the relationship between genre and social issues?

Genre comments on ongoing social tensions. Signup and view all the answers

What emotional experience is specifically associated with the viewer's engagement with the female screen body?

Feelings of manipulation and being jerked around. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Five Ideas

Sounds are immediately analyzed and distributed perceptually, with important sounds prioritized.
Vococentrism: voices are prioritized over other sounds.
Loose approximations are acceptable in matching sound to visuals for better access.
Acousmêtre: disembodied film voices (neither completely inside nor outside) can strongly imply omniscience (as seen in some genres).
Deaf cinema can be studied as dead cinema, where the deaf audience may also lose access to emotion and feeling in the story.

Nowell-Smith

Melodrama is a modern genre that contrasts with ancient tragedy.
Key elements of tragedy include kingdom, true king, succession, and political power.
Melodrama elements include family, true parent, inheritance, education and powerlessness.

Similarities

Questions are asked about who holds power (between a leader and the people) whether tragedy is presented by showing people in power, or a melodrama showing people without power
Tragedy represents people of power, and melodrama represents the powerless. Women in tragedy are seen as suffering more than men where failure is the cause of pain.
Unexpressed emotion may be shown in a film.
Tendency to privilege conservative official cultural ideas.
Genre reveals truths that realism hides.

Wood

Monsters represent repressed aspects of society.
Societal norms are challenged, and conventional views about families and their roles are critiqued.
Monsters act as doubles who mirror the victims, but are also repressed aspects of society.
Monsters can be politically progressive or reactionary.

Nichols 1

Realism in a film relates to how familiar and apparent events are.
Truth in a story can be considered to be either familiar or unexpected.
Familiarity = real, or familiar events.
Unexpected/surprising events may appear true depending on expectations.
Indexicality is the trace of a particular event.
News, Pornography, Ads, Homes and Movies as visual index.

Ariel Lecture

Neorealism refers to the post-WWII Italian film movement, focusing on everyday settings, themes of poverty and the common man,
Neorealist filmmakers are concerned with the moral aspects inherent in everyday life and offer no solutions.
Focus on the use of ordinary life to create realism.
Neorealists employed aspects of simplicity in their work.
Four characteristics of neorealism include on-location shooting, material necessities, non-professional actors, and non-contrived plots.

Berger

Animals represented human's connection with nature.
Changes in society (and social thought) led to a diminished view of animals as reflections of humanity.

Films

Singing in the Rain (1952): A meta-cinematic musical that reflects the shift from silent to sound films and highlights its impact on American culture.
Illusions (1982): A low-budget film that critically looks at World War II, with racial and gender critiques.
Stella Dallas (1937): Explores social issues and changes to the female family unit. The family is challenged in a societal way. The family is critiqued through the portrayal of how society pushes and pulls the mother. The mother changes as the societal pressure impacts the way she acts.

Night of the Living Dead

Portrayals of people (humans) transformed into monsters/ghouls.
Shows a transformation from workers to consumers, with consumption as an aspect of consumerism highlighted.
A shift from traditional workers to consumers.

When a Stranger Calls

Depicts typical horror elements such as suspense, tension, and the use of sounds (like phones).
The film shows a concern with the impact that external forces have.
There are themes/consequences associated with the family.

Umberto D.

Neorealism's focus on everyday lives and issues, and the effects that everyday life has.
Neorealism is portrayed in the story and films use realism as a part of their story to challenge perspectives concerning the story.
This film was shot on-location.
The film used non-professional actors, mirroring everyday life as experienced by many.
Non-diegetic sound was excluded, reflecting the realistic tone of the movie.

Wendy & Lucy

The film highlights contemporary social and ethical issues (in a very straightforward way).
It is based in America and examines social norms and perceptions of what is good and bad.
This film focuses on issues connected to everyday life.
The film used on-location settings and non-professional actors, to illustrate realism.

Close-up

Actors adapt to new social class standards, represented by an emphasis on forgiveness and reenactments.
The social class and the actions they take are contrasted.
Reenactments highlight emotional and societal themes including forgiveness and how individuals struggle to forgive.
The film examines empathy, compassion, and how people interact (to resolve the events).

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Description

Explore the nuanced analysis of sounds in film and the contrasting elements of tragedy and melodrama. This quiz delves into concepts like vococentrism and acousmêtre as well as the distinct narrative structures that define these genres. Test your understanding of how power dynamics shape storytelling in cinema.