Pick a scene in a film or television show that contains music, either vocal or instrumental. If you write about a scene we have discussed in class, you will get zero. Choose an example that you can rewatch as you write this reflection. Discuss the function of the music in the scene. Do not look up published discussions of the film. This reflection should be based on your own thoughts and observations. Your post should answer these questions:
Is the music newly composed or pre-existing?
If it is newly composed, who composed it?
If it is pre-existing, where is it from?
If you don’t know, search the film on IMBD. Scroll to the section titled “Soundtracks” and click “See more.” Most (but not all) films will have a listing of the main pieces of music featured in the film.
Is the music diegetic or nondiegetic?
If it’s ambiguous, explain why.
What function does the music serve in this scene? Here are some possibilities (it’s likely that the music serves several different functions simultaneously):
setting the mood for the scene
expressing a character’s thoughts, emotions, or psychological states
suggesting how the viewer ought to regard characters or events in this scene
inducing emotional states in the viewer (e.g., tension, fear, relaxation, cheerfulness)
foreshadowing future events in the narrative
expressing the filmmakers’ attitudes towards the characters or events of the scene
imparting formal properties such as coherence, continuity, or closure
Please clearly indicate the title of the film or TV show (consult the formatting guidelines below), the year it was released (in brackets), as well as a very brief description of the scene. Confine plot summary to the bare minimum required to answer the above questions. Posts that ONLY summarize the plot of the film will need to be rewritten. If possible, include a URL to this scene on YouTube or other website.
Take a moment to review the guidelines about formatting titles:
titles of large-scale works like films, TV shows, and books should be in italics
Kurosawa’s Ran
titles of songs and journal articles should be in quotation marks
Garland’s performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in The Wizard of Oz
generic titles of works of Western classical music should be capitalized but not in italics or quotation marks
Mahler’s First Symphony
Piano Sonata in A Major by Mozart
Aim to write about 400 words. This reflection is due on November 26.
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