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The Importance Of Film Music And Music

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Sound and image are inextricably bound together during the audiovisual experience of film. A film without sound design and music is undeniably plain and uninteresting. Despite this implicit fact, the majority of cognitive film theorists emphasize the dominance of visual elements on the emotional experience of film. However, much of visual dominance research neglects the complexity and depth of the audio-visual experience of film. A large body of evidence suggests that auditory cues play a much larger role in determining the emotional impacts and interpretation of film than visual cues. Furthermore, film music often fits into standard valances that aid in guiding the audience’s attention and interpretation.
The use of music to elevate the cinematic experience began early in the history of film. In 1912, Max Winkler became one of the first to catalog music to pair with silent film, leading to an industry of matching canned music to the mood and action of a film (Prendergast, 1992). Winkler’s efforts are one of the first examples of the film industry recognizing the power of congruent music and image. Clearly, music could serve a much more important function than simply quieting the audience (Buchanan, 1974). In his book, This is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession, Daniel Levitin (2006) explores the ability of music to evoke emotion. When an individual listens to music, there is a cascade of activity in brain areas associated with pleasure, such as the

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