How The Film Composer Creates Emotion
Start writing a post

Music: The Most Underrated Aspect Of Film

Music is probably one of the least talked about part of a film, but it is perhaps one of the most important.

21
Music: The Most Underrated Aspect Of Film

One of the things I love most about film as an art is that it's a combination of several different art forms. Film is a beautiful blend of photography, acting, storytelling, computer arts, costuming, sound, and music. That last art form is the one I'm going to discuss because I feel it goes underappreciated.

When people often discuss a film's qualities, the music used in a film is often near the bottom of the list. Many would say that a film's visuals, acting, and storytelling is more important and worthy of discussion. While it's true that a film definitely needs those qualities to function properly, film also relies on music just as much and, outside of some unique cases, can't function without it.

Music is almost always used in film to convey a certain mood to accompany the visuals. Music is one of the most effective ways to convey happiness, sadness, fear, bravery, surprise, and comfort when you pair it with the visuals. You may not consciously know it, but music is making you feel the emotion that the director wants you to feel.

If you think that I'm overselling the importance of music in film, then you should try an exercise I love doing. Imagine a scene from a film or an entire film without any music at all. Does the scene and/or film still have the same emotional weight without music?

Is "Star Wars" still as exciting without the triumphant John Williams theme? Do the action scenes in "Star Wars" still hold the same intensity without the fast-paced rhythm of the music? Does the "Married Life" scene from the movie "Up" still have the same emotional weight without Michael Giacchino's score? Is "Halloween" still as terrifying when you remove it's uneasy and dread inducing theme?

Many of you who try this will probably figure out that the scenes/films that have their music removed no longer have the emotional punch that they once have. Music in film is about psychological manipulation. It guides your emotions and helps convey the emotion that the images are already trying to do, but usually can't by themselves.

For example, say there is a scene in a film where you see a woman running down a hall with her back toward the camera and the camera is following her. Without music, this scene is rendered emotionally neutral, but you can effectively add a variety of emotions just by adding different types of music. If you add a fast paced comedic theme, the scene plays as lighthearted and fun. If you a tense and uneasy theme, the scene plays like a tense horror film where the woman is running for her life from a potential stalker/killer.

I bring this all up because I feel that music in film should be discussed more and given just as much respect as things like acting and directing. The average movie goer should know the names of other film composers besides John Williams and Hanz Zimmer. These are the people who are responsible for adding emotion to a film and deserve more notoriety than they often get from the film public. So, the next time you see a film with music you like, look up the composer's name in the credits and view the rest of their work. You might be impressed with what you find.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

43788
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

27548
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

952402
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

148958
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments