BLOG 11 : annotated bibliography and research  

Chion, M. (2003) Film, A Sound Art. New york: Columbia University press. 

Michel chion’s Audio-vision has been key in understanding the relationship between audio and visual, he states that sound is not only added on to visual storytelling but is a key component to experience and perceive a story, his theories on the synchronization of sound and image helps us to understand the deeper connection of audio and visual. In his book audio-vision Chion discusses how sound can be used as a psychological tool to increase emotional impact, which can be done by controlling the speed, rhythm and intensity of sound, for example fast paced and high pitch sounds can evoke a sense of anxiety while slow paced and low pitch sounds introduce a sense of calm or dread. 

Using music as a psychological tool is the most relevant aspect of Michel Chion’s audio visual for my project as there are no visuals in my project and instead, I must rely on sound to create a filmic experience which is why sound psychology is so important for me. 

        Wierzbicki, J. (2009) Film music : A History. New York: Routledge. 

James Wierzbicki’s  film music a history talks about the hierarchy between audio and visual, “Typically, the music of film composers, in the multi-media hierarchy, has played a secondary role; in most cases it was created as a response to a filmic “product” that in essence was completed well before the composer was invited to participate, “ in this quote from Wierzbicki we are told that music has always been secondary to the process of film making . He also states that due to the secondary nature of music in film, film music has been unoriginal, he makes it clear that he does not think film music is becoming unoriginal instead he argues that film composer are not tied down by rules of  normal music and have way more freedom while composing but because of the nature of film, the audience needs to hear music that is familiar to boost the films storytelling, to accommodate these expectations from the audience film composers just ended up composing material that sounds similar to existing film soundtracks. This is important for my project as i am subverting the hierarchy between audio and visual freeing me from the secondary nature of music in film which will allow me to craft uncovnetional film music.