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Functions of film sound: illusion & narration

by Sven E Carlsson


I categorize functions of film sound in ..[1]

A sound may have many functions at the same time.
 
 
ILLUSION
 

The main function of synchronous film sound is - as I see it - to give life and body to flat moving images. 

Sound enhance the illusion of..

  • TREE-DIMENSION

  • Sound is in 1-2-3-4 dimensions, moving images is in 1-2-4 dimension, Images gets "body" and space by synchresis
  • MATERIAL 

  • Something is made of plastic but it sounds stone
    A fake bottle becomes real with the addition of an actual glass bottle crash from the sound editors library.
  • TEMPORAL CONTINUITY

  • Different shots made at various times bridged by sound and dialogue
  • OFF SCREEN ENVIRONMENT 

  • Kerner's "creating illusion" is an illusion of "Off Screen Enviroment"-
 
 
NARRATION

A couple of years ago, when I was very inspired of Chion I made these terms to try to explain the narrative functions of film sound.
 

  • "AUDIOFOCUS"  

  • focus perception to on-screen or off screen sound. 
     
  • "EMOFORM

  • modifying the emotional quality of a sound
     
  •  "SONOCODE

  • using sonic cinematic codes in the narrative as..
     
    • Conventional sonocode, some sound effects are almost clichés as "the bell of death", "the wind of loneliness" etc.
    • Temporary sonocode as "sound motive"
    • Director's sonocode as Hitchcock's silence for power


1. "Functions of film sound: illusion & narration" is variant of 
M Kerner's   effect = illusion + mood    To The Purpose of Sound Effects


to Film Sound Theory

First version of this page 18/3 1998

mail to: svene.carlsson@folkbildning.net

 
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