Music-Driven Narrative Film: Vocal Music and Cinematic Storytelling
Date
2014-05
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
This thesis explores the relationship between vocal music and cinematic
storytelling, focusing on the following question: how should music-driven narrative
films, which are built primarily around vocal music, be constructed and produced in
order to be idiomatic to filmic mediums?
In order to answer this we first need a way to talk about the relationship
between vocal music and storytelling in film. To this end, the first half of this thesis
demonstrates two theoretical frameworks. In chapter one, a "three core-aspects"
analysis provides a tool for describing the overall relationship between sound, image
and narrative throughout a given film. In chapters two and three, an analysis of "metadiegetic music" provides a way to specifically identify and discuss the kinds of music around which music driven narrative films are built, as well as the unique treatment and functions of this music.
This thesis also provides a brief overview of the most significant genres of
music-driven narrative film: motion picture opera, television opera, film opera
adaptations, and movie musicals. Studying these genres reveals a variety of issues
related to the combination of vocal music and storytelling in filmic mediums.
Analyzing how these issues were addressed historically in the genres listed above
yields insight into how vocal music and storytelling could be more effectively
combined in filmic mediums.