MUSIC F337: MUSIC FOR RADIO AND
TELEVISION First
Summer 2008
Topic: Music in Film Sound
Unique # 79375 Meets daily
1:00-2:30 in MRH 2.634
Instructor: David Neumeyer MRH 3.748. ph. 471-7346. email:
neumeyer@mail.utexas.edu
CORRECTED
3 June 2008
DESCRIPTION:
Our object in this course is to develop
skills in analyzing the sound track, music's role in the sound track, and the
relation of sound track and imagetrack (especially relating to music) on
small-scale and large-scale (narrative) levels. The course develops critical
listening and viewing skills at the same time it offers a film-music history
survey. I will give a series of lectures at the beginning of the semester as a
concentrated introduction to the history of music in film; we will spend the
rest of our time building on this information to refine skills in critical
viewing through the analysis of films and film techniques as they relate to
film-music's narrative functions.
I
have designed the course so that you can be successful if you have EITHER
background in music history or theory OR background in film history or theory.
Musical background is not a prerequisite. Skills from courses such as
Introduction to Film, Music Appreciation, or Introduction to Music Theory can
be helpful, but are not necessary for success in this course. The
main requirement is a willingness to listen carefully and to articulate what
you hear.
TEXTS:
1. Michel Chion, Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen(New York: Columbia
University Press, 1994). Available at Coop East.
2. Michel Chion, The Voice in Cinema (New York: Columbia
University Press, 1999). Available at Coop East.
3. Other text materials will be provided as
needed, usually by posting documents to Blackboard.
REQUIREMENTS:
1.
Readings and class participation. Because of the time constraints of this compressed
semester, there are no assigned readings other than those identified above. I
do not keep attendance, but you will find it impossible to pass the second
exam, and therefore the course, without regular class attendance because the
skills needed are taught primarily through our class examples and discussions. I also reserve the
right to assign a failing grade to anyone whose attendance is obviously so poor
that she or he has not contributed to the class. I define "obviously so
poor" as "missing a week or more without clearing it with me
first."
2.
Pop quizzes on an almost daily basis in preparation for Exam 1. These quizzes
will be given near the beginning of each class period. The information and
question format for these quizzes will reappear in Exam 1. Answers will be given immediately after
the quiz. The quizzes do not count toward the final grade.
3.
Occasional notes written in class in response to a specific film clip and a
music/sound problem. These will serve as the basis for class discussion.
4.
EXAMS. Exam 1 is on terms, film
composers, studios (a study guide and sample exam will be provided). Exam 2 consists of analyses
of two film scenes with music, using specific questions drawn from the
textbooks. A study guide will be posted by mid-semester, or Monday June
23. Each exam
counts 50% toward the final grade.
I do not give exams on alternate dates -- if you can't attend on the two
exam dates, please drop the class. The only exception is documented
medical or family emergency.
SCHEDULE:
Readings are subject to change by a day or two, depending on how much we
cover in class.
|
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
|
|
|
JUNE
5: Introduction |
6:
Unit 1: Film-music history. Silent film practices. |
|
9:
transition to sound film. Chion, Voice, Prologue |
10:
early musicals |
11:
"golden era" practices |
12:
continued |
13:
continued |
|
16:
1950s-1960s. Read Chion, Audiovision, ch.7 |
17:
continued |
18:
stereo, pop scores, Dolby. |
19:
continuity of traditional practices in recent films. Chion, Audiovision, ch.8;
Voice, Epilogue |
20:
continued (End film-music history). Review for Exam 1. |
|
23:
Exam 1 |
24:
Unit 2: Soundtrack analysis. Read Chion, Audiovision, ch. 10 |
25:
Read Chion, Audiovision, ch.1 |
26:
Read Chion, Audiovision, ch.2, 3 (pp.58-65) |
27:
|
|
30:
Read Chion, Audiovision, ch.4 |
JULY
1: Gorbman, ch. 4 |
2: |
3:
Read Chion, Audiovision, ch.6, Voice, ch. 1 & 2 |
4:
|
|
7: |
8:
Review for Exam 2 |
9:
|
10:
Exam 2 in class |
11:
final exam day. We do NOT have a final exam in this class. |
Important
Dates:
Week
0:
Friday
6: Last day of the official add/drop period.
Week
1:
Tuesday 10: Last day an undergraduate student
may add a course except for rare and extenuating circumstances.
Week
2:
Wednesday
18: Last day to drop a course without a possible academic penalty.
Week
3:
Monday
23: Exam 1. Names of composers, film titles, terms,
and definitions.
Wednesday 25:
Last day a student may change registration in a course to or from the pass/fail
or credit/no credit basis.
Week
5:
Thursday 10: Last class day: Exam 2. This exam tests skills
in critical listening based on Chion; it is not a cumulative final exam.
Friday 11-Saturday 12: Final examinations for
first-term courses. We do not have a cumulative final exam and the class will
not meet at this time.
NOTICE:
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic
accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information,
contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.