In "Amusing Ourselves to Death", Postman says "What has music to do with the news? Why is it there? It is there, I assume, for the same reason music is in theater and films-to create a mood and provide a leitmotif for the entertainment" (102).
Postman is right. There is back round music for just about everything on television and it really does set the mood. For example, the movie Jaws. All of a sudden you hear "duh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh" or some frightening rhythm and it sets a mood of nervousness and panic. Then when you see the shark, you are already nervous from the music that you get scared and maybe even jump.
What the movie may be showing may not even be scary or happy but with the music, it guides you to what you should be feeling.
I dont even notice the music anymore because its become custom for shows/movies to have it.
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That’s so true Sara. Music can set the tone for a movie, television show, play or even a sitcom. The music adds emotion to the scene. Music can give away what is about to happen though. If scary music starts to play you can pretty much guess what is about to happen. But without the music wouldn’t the movie scene seem boring?
ReplyDeleteYou guys are pretty much right on track with that analysis. You can't have the shark scene playing any other music because it just wouldnt work. The music you hear the first time you watch the show will sit with you, and every time you hear that sound you'll know wats coming. But it has to be in the ballpark on what the sound and tne will be. You can't have a slow beat to a high intense scene. It just wouldn't work. Nor could you have a Metallica song playing to a scene in "My Little Pony". You have to be smart when your attaching a song to a scene.
ReplyDeleteThis is true! Usually when I think of music corresponed with television or movies, a musical comes to mind. Because music is a part of T.V. we don't always think of it as a big deal when it introduces a scene, theme music and when somethings drastic or sads happened. Music is a part of our culture and embedded in our emotions.
ReplyDeleteWhat Sara pointed out is true. Music has become important in our culture. We can hear it practically everywhere we go either at the mall, television, or a theater performance. Most stores at the mall play music not too soft, but not too loud. When we think about it music does affect the way we feel. For example, when stores play fast and loud music we don't even take the time to look around. When the music is soft and slow, we are more calm about shopping.
ReplyDeleteVery true. Music is in the news to grab our attention and to keep us hooked. Would we really keep watching two straight weeks of a so called "Death Investigation of Michael Jackson" if we didn't get to hear a small clip our favorite MJ song? And would we really feel that sad if we didn't hear that sad little piano tune before and after every commercial break? Would we (or totally crazed patriotic middle-aged men) really shed tears during fireworks if we (or he) didn't hear that low budget, cliche "Proud American" song? Music has been around since the beginning of the beginning of time as has been used for entertainment. We've got all these wacked-out, overpaid producers and editors picking and playing all this music to get you to watch the so-called "news." And guess what? It's working.
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