Soundtracks

Objectives

The objective of this course is to understand the use of music in audiovisual media, not only as an aesthetic and emotional element, but also as a uniquely narrative one. Thus, the goal is for students to understand its main functions, understand the available resources, and know how to create a musical script that complements the literary script. Ultimately, they will be able to convey their intentions and decisions to the composer for musical representation.

Learning outcomes

• Acquire and demonstrate advanced knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects and working methodology in the field of audiovisual communication.
• Understand and analyze the elements that make up audiovisual narration.
• Distinguishes the audiovisual narrative resources characteristic of different genres and formats.
• Learn about and analyze the possibilities that music offers in audiovisual productions and in the work processes of professionals in the field.

Competencies

General skills

• Demonstrate interpersonal skills and be able to adapt to new situations and work under pressure.
• Organize and plan tasks related to professional performance through proper time management and timing of these tasks.

Specific skills

• Master audiovisual and multimedia technology and apply it to the different stages in the creative process and thus be able to adapt to different work environments.

Basic skills

• Students can apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and have competencies typically demonstrated through drafting and defending arguments and solving problems in their field of study.
• Students have demonstrated knowledge and understanding in a field of study that builds on general secondary education with the support of advanced textbooks and knowledge of the latest advances in this field of study.

Core skills

• Interact in international and worldwide contexts to identify needs and and new contexts for knowledge transfer to current and emerging fields of professional development, with the ability to adapt to and independently manage professional and research processes.

Content

The course has a theoretical and a practical component. The theoretical component presents the unique characteristics of music applied to audiovisual media (which are different from those of non-applied music); the practical component studies numerous examples of musical scripts.

The following subjects are covered in the theoretical part:

1. Introduction
   1. Music in the audiovisual media. Identifying elements
2. Music in the audiovisual context
   1. Necessary music and creative music
   2. Original, pre-existing and adapted music
   3. Diegetic music and incidental music
   4. Empathic music and anempathic music
   5. Integrated music
3. Music distribution
   1. Musical structure
   2. Opening theme and closing theme
   3. Main theme, central theme and secondary theme
   4. Subtopic
   5. Countertheme
   6. Motifs and fragments: the leitmotiv
   7. The repeated, varied and resonant music
   8. The musical silence
4. Music levels
   1. Noise level
   2. Argument level
   3. Spatial level
   4. Dramatic level
5. Dynamization processes
   1. The music and the dialogues
   2. The sequential connection
   3. Lengthening and intensification of the sequence
6. Creation of the musical script

Evaluation

• P1. Participation Observation: 10%
• P2. Monitoring of work done: 10%
• P3. Specific assessment tests: exams: 40%
• P4. Completion of required work or projects: 40%

Methodology

Based on the theoretical concepts and examples studied in class, students address the challenges and difficulties of creating a coherent and clear musical script. Joint sessions, student presentations, debates, and individual evaluations are held.

Bibliography

Key references

• Xalabarder, Conrado (2015). El Guion Musical en el Cine. CreateSpace.

Further reading

Teachers will provide complementary bibliography and compulsory reading throughout the course via the Virtual Campus.