Assignment Length : Must not exceed 1500 words

Choose ONLY ONE of the THREE scenes listed below from Strictly Ballroom (Baz Lurhmann, 1992) and complete an analysis of screen sound including, but not limited to, music’s emotional effect and relationship with narrative.

These are the only scene choices for analysis:

1)    “Scott Breaks the Rules”  

http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/strictly-ballroom/clip1/

2)    “I want to dance with you”          

http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/strictly-ballroom/clip2/

3)  “Triumph”,

http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/strictly-ballroom/clip3/

While you only need to engage closely with this ONE section, you will need to see the rest of the film in order to understand the contextual importance of the scene you are analysing and develop an argument of the overall impact of this scene.

Students are provided with one existing ‘reading’ of the clip to use as a model to argue for, or argue against, using screen sound elements as tools, but they are also encouraged to explore other readings of this film to help support their analysis. This assignment will explore the differences Tagg described for film sound; “what do we mean by music [and sound]?” and “what does music [and sound] mean?

Students will present their findings as an annotated cue sheet (a blank template will be provided in class and also be placed on iLearn), and they must label this reading with an introductory summary (no more than 50 words).

The most productive responses will begin by diagnosing key aspects of the relationship between audio/vision, then exploring how these impact the film overall. You don’t have to note every sound and vision edit, but you will be expected to note at least 10 cues (depending on the scene and the meaning you are arguing, you may need many more, however more than one cue may contribute to the one overall impact).

You will be assessed on your ability to diagnose screen sound as it occurs (ie: log sound cues as they occur) AND comment on their significance critically. You will need to use appropriate vocabulary for film sound analysis.

Working in groups of 3-4, students will create the soundtrack to accompany a short section of a film as well as a 500 word justification (each student submits their own justification which will be marked seperately to the group work). Groups will be provided with a digital version of the image track.

The tracks are:

http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/kid-stakes/clip3/

http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/kid-stakes/clip2/

http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/kid-stakes/clip1/

Note: you must synch the sound to the given image in order to complete the task

The focus of the assignment is to create a soundtrack that works effectively with the narrative feel of the film and does not inhibit the power of any sonic elements already present on the soundtrack.

Soundtracks should reflect theoretical and practical foundations covered throughout the course. It is recommended that groups link the image tracks and music tracks on a simple home computer system such as iMovies (mac) or PC equivalent.

Any groups unable to access such programs will be able to use the MMCS labs to mix the final track. (NB Groups in this case will need to provide the timed soundtrack that will then be mixed to the image track.)  

This essay will draw primarily on material from the second half of the course, however material from the first half of the course will also benefit here.

The best way to achieve maximum results for this assignment is to maintain a commitment to the course by keeping up with weekly lectures, tutorials and readings.

Please note: this is a formal essay which will require clear referencing and appropriate research. The course reader and recommending readings are an important place to start for this assignment.

Essay question choices:
(Essay length : 2500 words)

1)    Genre # 1: View a selection of screen sound media that conform to a clear genre convention. Discussion how sound is used (with vision) to create and reinforce these genre conventions. Pay particular attention to the music track utilised.

2)    Genre # 2: View a selection of screen sound media that blend conventions of different genres, to create new generic forms. Discuss, using examples, how sound and music is used to create a new form.

3)    Different screens, different sounds: It has been argued that television sound is different to film sound. Use examples to demonstrate the contemporary conventions of sound in television and film (from the last 5 years) and use these to argue whether this argument about difference is still valid.

4)    Screen sound over time: choose a film/television/other screen text and examine it in the historical context it was first released in. Then compare it with a more contemporary piece aimed at a similar audience. Please demonstrate how these texts differ in terms of screen sound, and based on your research, offer some explanations for these differences.

Participation marks will be based on your ability to engage with key concepts discussed in tutorials. Spontaneous questions and tutorial exercises will be used to gauge your level of engagement with key concepts.  Attendance at tutorials is compulsory. Tutorials include listening exercises designed to assist with your grasp of unit concepts. Students missing 2 or more tutorials without providing medical certification will receive 0% for their final tutorial mark.