|
Minutes for Monday September 10, 2001 What does Music do in Film? The students came up with the following list: § establish mood § foreshadowing § characterization § symbolism § filler (to pass time) § distraction § balance § commercial reasons § emotion § setting § time § region § fills in voids of silence § gives the movie dimension on a regular flat surface (fills in and gives the world depth) Metropolis – 1925’ Sci-fi, Fritz Lag Plot summary § Shows the difference between the different classes of people. The statements that follow below describe film themes prevalent in films at the time. Some of these are relflected in Metropolis. § The haves (black marketers). In film, the haves live on the world’s surface and are industrialists) § The have-nots. In the film they are represented by the workers who live beneath the surface. § An interest in poetry, film literature, and drama, for presenting the city in both a positive and negative light. The city in Metropolis is a magnificent structure but it hides poverty and suffering. § The positive (architecture such as found in Manhattan) § The negative (alcohol, prostitution, the homeless) In the film mainly represented by the poor. § Science and technology are also portrayed as positive and negative § An example of the positive side of science in this movie was technology that ran the city and that could create a robot. § But the technology exploited the workers and the robot is being used for evil. § Another example of a negative side of science is represented by the mad scientist. § Science will not lead to utopia (sort of like the world in the Star Trek universe) § Science leads more to a dystopia, (like the the universe in Babylon 5) § Doppelgaenger figure is seen in person of Maria (both positive and negative side) Major scenes in the film include: § The son of main business man falls in love with evangelist (Maria) § Maria comes up to the surface, and changes the way the son fells about the have nots § The father creates a robot like Maria, because he fells she will ruin things in the upper class § Why the father does this, is unclear in the prints of the film. § Everything is destroyed § The father thinks his son is dead and he changes his philosophy of the workers. § The class structure goes back to the way it was at the end of the film. There was one version of Metropolis that was produced. This one film has been re-released at least six different times on tape in the last 20 years. Different music has been added to the film for each release. The class was shown the same scene from five of the different versions. These comments are the opinions of the students of the class. § Metropolis without any sound § Very boring, although you are not distracted away from the movie § Metropolis with music (Strauss Waltz) § The music doesn’t fit § The wrong mood is established § Metropolis with music (Slight Techno) § Sets right mood and setting § After a while you don’t even notice the music § Metropolis with music (Classical Music) § Right music § The chase scenes are more appropriate due to the type of music § Metropolis with music (Techno music, With Voices) § Bad music, tecno § Had sound effects (running water, fire burring) § Doesn’t fit time mode or our time § The voice in music tells what the movie is about rather than allowing the visuals to speak.
|