1. TV Drama: Sound
Learning Objectives: To develop an
understanding of how sound is used in
moving image to create meaning for
the viewer.

2. Lesson Aims
By the end of the lesson you will be able to:
• Identify different types of sound
• Deconstruct how sound is used alongside mise
en scene and cinematography to
communicate meaning about gender
representation.

3. Starter Activity
• Why is sound important in moving image?
• How can sound be used to communicate
information about particular characters?
• How can sound be used to add realism to the
scene?

4. Sound and character
• Sound creates a sense of character
• Soundtracks can establish whether a a
character is good or evil, hero or victim
• Character theme can indicate the status of
a character or the impact they have on
other characters in the scene

5. Sound and genre
• Sound elements provide a key
indicator to audiences of the genre
• Both diegetic and non-diegetic
• After The Omen (1976) Gregorian
chants seemed to be associated
with horror films, especially those
concerning demonic possession

6. Sound and Setting
• Both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds can
help create information concerning the
different settings
• Safe or not
• Contemporary or past time
• Country

7. Different types of Sound
• Diegetic sound /non diegetic sound

8. Internal Diegetic
• Any sounds that happen inside the mind of characters.
• Thoughts
• Memories
Although not all characters can hear them they are still
inside the world of the film and can be heard by some
characters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aulRoQTK5HY

9. Parallel Sound
• When sounds and music
compliment the visuals they are
referred to as parallel sounds
• Most sound is parallel and
reinforces the visual information
• E.g. Fast paced music in action
films or slow tense music in
horror

10. Contrapuntal Sound
• When the image and sound do
not match
• This is less common but is still
used a lot to create strong
reactions from audiences
• Used to create tension/unease
or comedy

11. Sound bridge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIkpD2Nr5yI
&NR=1

12. Asynchronous Sound
• Synchronous sound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iysU_BwybkM

13. VOICEOVER
• When a voice, often that of a character in the
film, is heard while we see an image of a
space and time in which that character is not
actually speaking. The voice over is often used
to give a sense of a character's subjectivity or
to narrate an event told in flashback.

14. DON’T FORGET…
• Silence – even when there is no sound this
can create an impact
• Dialogue – the tone, pitch and volume of
actors voices can all contribute to the meaning
of a scene or how the audience relate to them

15. Sound analysis
• How does the dialogue between characters
convey their emotions or dominance?
• How does the music create atmosphere?
• What sound effects are evident? How does
this add to the realism of the scene?
• How does the sound signify the mood of the
scene?

16. Lesson Task
How is sound, and editing used in
a 5 minute scene from Dr Who to
construct gender representation?