Sound in Film and Cinema

Sound plays a vital role in film and helps shape the way the viewer reacts and watches a motion picture. Sound influences and enhances what we see on the projector screen. Film critic and music composer Michael Chion breaks down sound into different groups which each play a role in the making of a film. 

Michael Chion describes sound and listening in three different types of modes: causal, semantic, and reduced listening. “Causal listening refers to the listening of a sound in order to gather information about its cause or source (Chion 25).” Semantic listening is listening for the purpose of gaining information about what is communicated in the sound and language. Reduced listening is listening for the purpose of focusing on the qualities of sound itself such as pitch or timbre, which is independent of its source or meaning. 

In the film Bad Boys II with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, each of the three listening modes are used. In one of the last scenes of the movie, the two policemen gear up for a huge battle in which they rescue a hostage while under gunfire from the Cuban army. They enter a mansion surrounded by armored guards and men as they make their way through the house trying to find the hostage. They are able to successfully escape with the hostage as they leave in a car with the mansion exploding in the background. The sound first heard in this scene uses causal listening with miners digging an underground tunnel. The clang of the digging indicates that men are underground and are moving quickly. In addition, the semantic sounds of the policemen’s voices are heard as they instruct each other where to go. This is causal listening as well as semantic listening. The barking of instructions indicate that the voice is from one of the policemen and from semantic listening you can hear that the voice is from actor Will Smith without even seeing him in the picture. In the background, as the policemen prepare to enter the house, the reverberation of a drum is heard as a reduced sound to create suspense. Immediately, the explosion from a rocket launcher rips through the air followed by the panicked voices of the enemy soldiers. This fleeting moment uses all three listening modes. Causal listening is used to determine that the source of the explosion is the rocket launcher and reduced listening indicates that magnitude of the explosion and its effects on the building. Finally, semantic listening is used determine that the panicked voices belong to the Cuban soldiers who are under attack. Then the crash of shattered glass and windows is heard through reduced listening as well as the sound of the approaching enemy vehicles as the policemen make their way towards the hostage. As bullets and machine gun fire whiz by the policemen in another example of reduced listening, the clatter of footsteps and shouting is heard loud and clear to convey an atmosphere of chaos and confusion. The shouting of the men as they escape is another instance of semantic listening as the viewer realizes that it is coming from actor Martin Lawrence. 

Sound is able to influence what we see and affect its images by bringing to life the images on the screen. The sound of a grenade making a huge explosion magnifies it effects on the scene at hand. The noises make the scene and actions come alive and seem all the more real. The noise of miners digging tunnels makes you believe that you are really inside that tunnel with the characters in the film. Listening to sound in a film also makes the viewer react more to the action or scene. For example, the noise of a machine gun firing rapidly several rounds of bullets at a time makes it seem all the more remarkable of a feat when the actors miraculously escape a hail of bullets while running for their lives. Awed at such a scene, the audience thinks, “how did they do that” or “that was amazing.” Furthermore, the listening of sound captures the viewer’s attention and wraps them into the scene. The noise of several helicopter in the sky dashing across the ocean gives the impression that a huge action scene is about to occur or a crucial point in the film’s plot is on the brink.

Art Box: A Great Way to Get Creative with Children

You've had it! If you hear, "I'm bored. What can I do? There's nothing to do!" or one more whine you'll surely put your head in the dryer and slam the door shut! Keeping kids occupied challenges the most stalwart of adults. Let's face it; we're no match for the leprechaun like stealth of the half-pint human who exhibits no shame while in pursuit of getting what they want. In this case, the want is something to do! Take a deep breath and grab the art box. Aren't you glad you planned for just this kind of rainy, I'm bored day?

The art box is alive with fun projects for little fingers and minds. The key to creating this mother's little helper is to keep it fresh and growing. First you'll need a box. Find a fascinating box, either plastic, heavy cardboard, or a Rubbermaid container. Make sure it's colorful, big and fun. After all, this is a special box, not you're ordinary run of the mill type of box filled with just paper and crayons. The art box I pulled together is a plastic one in primary colors of red, blue and yellow with a snap on lid and a carrying handle. It cost about $5.00 at a big box store.

Once you've found the perfect box you can begin filling it. There's no need to fill it all at once. The idea is to start with the basics: construction paper in lots of colors, crayons, markers, scissors, glue, and a sketchpad. These items can be varied depending on the age of the child. Washable markers are a good idea for the younger set along with small, scissors with rounded ends. Add to the box periodically so when it's opened there's something new inside. Play dough makes a great addition. Forget the molds and the fancy tools. Let the children just use their hands and imagination to create whimsical masterpieces. Toss in stickers from time to time, especially for upcoming holidays. Paints of all kinds can be added. Start with watercolors. Move on to tempra for the older kids, but always have finger paints for the little ones. Sidewalk chalk is a big hit in the summer and in the winter it can be used on large newspaper print. You can usually get the end rolls free or for a nominal fee from newspaper publishers.

Think out of the "box" when coming up with new ideas. Collect little treasures when out walking. Botanicals like small pinecones, straw flowers, dried grasses or try your hand at pressing flowers with your wee ones. These can be glued on to paper to make wonderful nature pictures. Tiny shells and sea glass collected from a trip to the beach will surprise and delight when the box is opened. Glitter, pieces of fabric in bright colors, ribbons and rickrack all get the creative juices flowing. At some point you'll want to add colored pencils, stencils, and a handy dandy ruler. A compass or protractor for the older children will acquaint them with these items as well as aid in the artful creativity that makes children everywhere smile. (At least for a while.)

Keep a look out for unusual items that you can add to the art box. Purchase various colors of tissue paper for paper flowers and roses or to be used in whatever way your child comes up with. Petal paper is a very special paper that is made with bits and pieces of flower petals, grasses and other gifts from nature. It's a bit pricey, but what a treat for the older children.

The more fascinating the items the children find in the box, the more special it becomes. Look around your home. You'll find items that make for interesting art projects like: cotton balls, colorful pastas, sponges, buttons of every size and hue, dryer lint (?) I was just kidding on that one. Keep a good supply of stickers of all kinds on hand to add when nothing else is available

The true key to the "special" box is to have little surprises inside that were not there the last time it was brought down from it's safe spot. This is not the everyday color jar filled with broken bits of crayons; this box is brought out when things become really dire. It's a "special" art box. The special box is only used at the table or easel. No preschoolers are allowed to take one item from the box and walk around with it. Again, the idea is to make it so special that it brings excitement and smiles to the faces of the bored and fretting. It's worked for me and I'm sure it will work for you as well. So get crackin' you never know when the clouds might appear on the horizon or your child's face. As adults, we seriously need all the help we can get. The special art box will give you a moment or if you're lucky, two or three to take a deep cleansing breath. Just look at their cherubic faces. "NOOO don't paint the cat!!!"

The Akron Art Museum is Moving

credit

Growing up one of my favorite activities was visiting the museum in Akron. Formerly the Art Institute, the museum has been in existence since the twenties and moved around a bit until it settled at 69 East Market Street. By the seventies, the focus had changed from offering a historical collection of art to one that provided the “finest modern and contemporary art” to patrons in Northeast Ohio. Renamed the Akron Art Museum in 1981 they moved across the street to an old post office in what is now their current location.This is how I remember the art museum; interesting abstract exhibits that took up the entire room and a plethora of huge paintings that covered every major post-modern movement one could think of, cubism, pointillism, you name it! I then left Akron for college in the early nineties and had learned about other museums in other cities, notably those in Cincinnati and Dayton. It was not until recently on a trip back to Akron that I discovered that the museum was moving closer to the edge of downtown and had a new, visually aggressive design. The new design fuses the old building from the seventies with a new glass structure. Coop Himmelb(l)au is the team behind the new look, unlike other museums in Ohio the Akron Art Museum is rather small, as only 1% of their entire collection can be shown in the current structure at any time. When the new building opens up in 2006, those issues will have been addressed and Akron will finally have a museum on par with those elsewhere in Ohio and architecturally comparable to those in cities like Washington D.C, and New York City, for a change.

What You Need Know about Caring for a Baby, Newborn to One Year

baby seats reviews

0-12 Months: What You Should Be Aware Of If you have never been around small babies or infants before, there are some important things that you should know. Just because they can’t walk, it doesn’t mean that they are always safe. If you are new at babysitting, or have a new baby in your extended family, here are some important things that you should know before you volunteer to keep the baby. *You should never let a baby get out of your eyesight. Unless the child is napping safely in a crib, you should never leave the room that a baby or infant is in. *If you are changing a baby’s diaper on a high surface such as a couch, bed, or table, you should have one hand on the child at all times. Even little newborns that can’t roll over can stretch, or startle, which can lead to a fall. *If the baby is in a car seat, infant seat, or a bouncy seat, you should never place it on a raised surface. Sudden movements by the child, or a jarring of a table, can send the baby into the floor. *Make sure that the area in your home where the baby will be located is free of blind and drape cords. You should also make sure that the baby can’t reach electrical cords, or phone cords. *An infant should never have access to plastic grocery store bags, or dry-cleaning bags. They can suffocate. *A child’s crib should be free of pillows and stuffed animals. They can cause suffocation. They may look pretty, but a child should never be left alone in their crib or playpen with these. *A baby should never be allowed to sleep on a waterbed, or a bed that is pushed up against a wall. Also, babies should never be placed near an open window. *Never leave your home without the baby, even if it is asleep. You should not even step across the yard to talk to the neighbor. You never know when an emergency might happen, such as a fire, fall from the crib, or being locked out of the house! *You should never leave an infant with a small child. Even a 5 or 6 year-old child can think they are older and stronger than they really are. If they try to pick up the infant, they could drop him. Even a bear hug to an infant could break its bones. *All baby and infant car seats should face the rear of the car. Follow all instructions in regards to the car seat. *Never, ever leave an infant in the car. It doesn’t matter if you are just stepping in to pay for gas. Weather conditions are hazardous to infants. Also, your child could be stolen. *Always do a thorough investigation of your home, and especially areas where the infant will be. Small, minute objects can choke an infant. Babies always have their hands in their mouths. Anything that is in their hands will come in contact with their mouths. *If you are giving an infant a bath, remember that these little people can drown in mere inches of water. You should always have a firm grip on a baby when you are giving them a bath.