Film is often thought of as being a visual medium, but sound (especially sound and visuals together) play a huge role in storytelling. When Darth Vader appears on-screen you hear the ominous "Imperial March" (because he's ominous and in charge), or when roadtripping teenagers in a rusted jalopy return home after being punched in the face by the real world, chances are we're hearing Elliott Smith or some kind of grey day acoustic folk song (because they're existential and sad), this is what is known as contrapuntal, or counterpoint music. To put it simply (and in the context of film), the music contradicts the images. You've heard it before, I promise -- Stanley Kubrick and Quentin Tarantino are famous for using it. For example, the song "Comanche" by The Revels plays during the infamous Gimp scene in Pulp Fiction, or possibly a more notable scene would be from Reservoir Dogs when Mr. Blonde cuts off a cop's ear to the hand-clappin' tune of "Stuck in the Middle With You" by Stealers Wheel.Let's dive into the meaning of this term and how it appears in film and TV. Contrapuntal SoundContrapuntal sound in film and TV is a technique where the music or sound effects intentionally contrast with the visuals on screen. This creates a jarring or unexpected effect, often used to heighten emotions, create irony,The Two Main Types of Contrapuntal Sound in Film and TVContrapuntal Music: This is where the music playing contradicts the mood or tone of the scene. For example,...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Tuesday, 21 May, 2024