The thesis, entitled Penser l'écran sonore : les théories du film parlant ( Thinking the sound screen : theories of the talking film ) aims to provide at once a survey and critique of such theories as have explicitly addressed themselves to film conceived of in its essence as a carrier of acoustically produced meaning. This position would seem to be the merest commonplace, however, review of the literature will show that the study of the cinematic sound object as such was hardly carried out in any systematic manner before the 1980s and the groundbreaking work of Rick Altman, Michel Chion, and Claudia Gorbman. Perhaps the most simple manner of illustrating previous theoretical approaches to this topos would be to indicate the " polar " extremes which mark the limits of the discursive space within which their coverage is inscribed - pessimism and mourning for the silents ( Balász ), dizzying mysticism ( Eisenstein ), Marxian ideological analysis ( Adorno and Eisler ), and various practical suggestions for filmmakers of the type proposed by Reisz and Spottiswoode. The thesis is divided into three along the familiar lines of sound qua sound - concerning that which is valid for all types of sound in the cinema - the voice in cinema, and cinema music. The main approaches to these objects can be similarly broadly characterised as semiological, second - wave semiological, ( i.e. semiology plus psychoanalysis ), cognitivist, and technopragmatic. The intention is to interrogate the merits and the defaults of these approaches by applying them to a range of problematics arising in the three areas listed above. It would of course be ideal if all approaches were to deal with identical questions, however, the internal dynamics of the various methodologies evidently privilege the framing of one question over another : in my opinion this presents its own interest, as the questions which can ( and, perhaps more importantly, cannot ) be posed within a given discursive structure are most revealing of the theoretical framework itself. The importance of cinema sound considered as representation rather than as simple transcription is insisted upon throughout. The limits of multichannelling are established as not greatly extending those already established by stereo. The practice of direct sound - of sound recorded on location or on set in real time - is found to have a distinctly theological dimension. The notion of subjective time as it is experienced by the spectator in the cinema is examined at length. A prominent feminist model of the functioning of sound in the cinema is found to be most unsteady. Finally, an aesthetic of the sound film which utilises the potential of the medium to the highest degree is proposed. A consideration of the lacunae in the field - which remain possibilities for further study - and an extensive bibliography complete the survey. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Humanities, 2006.

The thesis, entitled Penser l'écran sonore : les théories du film parlant ( Thinking the sound screen : theories of the talking film ) aims to provide at once a survey and critique of such theories as have explicitly addressed themselves to film conceived of in its essence as a carrier of acoustically produced meaning. This position would seem to be the merest commonplace, however, review of the literature will show that the study of the cinematic sound object as such was hardly carried out in any systematic manner before the 1980s and the groundbreaking work of Rick Altman, Michel Chion, and Claudia Gorbman. Perhaps the most simple manner of illustrating previous theoretical approaches to this topos would be to indicate the " polar " extremes which mark the limits of the discursive space within which their coverage is inscribed - pessimism and mourning for the silents ( Balász ), dizzying mysticism ( Eisenstein ), Marxian ideological analysis ( Adorno and Eisler ), and various practical suggestions for filmmakers of the type proposed by Reisz and Spottiswoode. The thesis is divided into three along the familiar lines of sound qua sound - concerning that which is valid for all types of sound in the cinema - the voice in cinema, and cinema music. The main approaches to these objects can be similarly broadly characterised as semiological, second - wave semiological, ( i.e. semiology plus psychoanalysis ), cognitivist, and technopragmatic. The intention is to interrogate the merits and the defaults of these approaches by applying them to a range of problematics arising in the three areas listed above. It would of course be ideal if all approaches were to deal with identical questions, however, the internal dynamics of the various methodologies evidently privilege the framing of one question over another : in my opinion this presents its own interest, as the questions which can ( and, perhaps more importantly, cannot ) be posed within a given discursive structure are most revealing of the theoretical framework itself. The importance of cinema sound considered as representation rather than as simple transcription is insisted upon throughout. The limits of multichannelling are established as not greatly extending those already established by stereo. The practice of direct sound - of sound recorded on location or on set in real time - is found to have a distinctly theological dimension. The notion of subjective time as it is experienced by the spectator in the cinema is examined at length. A prominent feminist model of the functioning of sound in the cinema is found to be most unsteady. Finally, an aesthetic of the sound film which utilises the potential of the medium to the highest degree is proposed. A consideration of the lacunae in the field - which remain possibilities for further study - and an extensive bibliography complete the survey. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Humanities, 2006.

published_or_final_version / Music / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (MPhil (Music))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis represents an attempt to explore the use of metadiegetic film sound and its connection with qualities displayed by human physiology. Metadiegesis is chosen as the focus of this study, in order to point out the potential of film sound to be representative and not to slavishly imitate its visual counterpart. Therefore, because metadiegetic sound is deictic in nature, the first hurdle to clear was to navigate through a terminological minefield, allowing a clear glimpse of its true meaning and its connection with the filmic image. The researcher attempts to create hypothetical scenarios in order to analyse and discuss metadiegetic examples from films, convincingly utilised and less-convincingly so. The intention was to understand, clarify and disambiguate terminological uncertainties and inaccuracies. An exploration of asynchronous metadiegetic sound follows as refinement of the first step. This is done by resorting to existing examples in the form of extracts from films for demonstration purposes. As a result, the use of metadiegetic film sound is clearly defined and its use explained by attaching it to three concepts: a ‘story within a story’, external story space, and internal representation. It is argued that through these concepts, sound can be amalgamated with image to create a different realm, where sound and image tell more than an audio-visual story. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis poog die navorser om die gebruik van “metadiegetic” film-klank, en die verband wat dit met die menslike fisiologie hou, te verken. “Metadiegesis” vorm dus die fokuspunt van die navorsingstuk. Hierdie fokus beklemtoon film-klank se verteenwoordigende potensiaal, en die feit dat dit nie net ʼn slaafse nabootsing van die visuele aspek van film is nie. Aangesien “metadiegetic” klank dus deikties van aard is, is die eerste uitdaging om ʼn weg te vind deur ʼn terminologiese mynveld. Dit word gedoen in ʼn poging op ʼn duidelike begrip van die ware betekenis van “metadiegesis” te ontwikkel, en om die verband wat film-klank met die visuele aspek van film het, duidelik te maak. Die navorser poog in die eerste plek om hipotetiese scenario’s te skep om sodoende “metadiegetic” voorbeelde in films te analiseer en te bespreek. Die doel is om terminologiese onsekerhede en dubbelsinnighede te verstaan en te verklaar. Dan volg die verkenning van asinchroniese “metadiegetic” klank as verfyning van die eerste stap. Dit word gedoen deur gebruik te maak van film-uittreksels ter verduideliking van die bogenoemde stappe. Na aanleiding hiervan, is die gebruik van metadiegetiese film-klank duidelik gedefinieer, en die toepassing daarvan gekoppel aan drie konsepte: ʼn “storie binne-in ʼn storie”, “eksterne storie ruimte” en “interne verteenwoordiging”. Deur middel van hierdie konsepte kan klank saamsmelt met beeld om ʼn ander dimensie te betree, waar klank en beeld meer vertel as ʼn oudiovisuele storie.

Thesis (M.Mus.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa there has been an increase over the last few years in audio engineering courses which include modules of study in audio post-production or even offer audio post-production as a major focus of study. From an academic standpoint however, and despite the growth in the local film industry, very little study of this field has been undertaken in South Africa until recently. In 2005, a MMus thesis was submitted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal entitled Acoustic Ambience in Cinematography: An Exploration of the Descriptive and Emotional Impact of the Aural Environment (Turner, 2005: online). The thesis briefly outlines the basic components of the soundtrack and focuses on describing and analysing the properties of ambience, a sub-section of sound effects. At Stellenbosch University, research has recently begun in the fields of film music and Foley (sound effects associated with human movement onscreen). The purpose of this thesis is to provide an overview of audio post-production and the contribution of sound to the film medium. It provides an outline of the processes involved in creating a soundtrack for film and includes a description of the components of the soundtrack and recommendations for practical application. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gedurende die afgelope paar jaar was daar ‘n toename in oudio-ingenieurskursusse, insluitend studiemodules in oudio post-produksie, en selfs ‘n aanbod vir modules in post-produksie as hoofstudierigting. Desnieteenstaande, en ten spyte van die groei in die plaaslike filmindustrie is tot onlangs min akademiese studies op dié terrein in Suid-Afrika onderneem. In 2005 is ‘n MMus-tesis aan die Universiteit van KwaZulu-Natal voorgelê, met die titel Acoustic Ambience in Cinematography: An Exploration of the Descriptive and Emotional Impact of the Aural Environment (Turner, 2005: aanlyn). Hierdie tesis gee ‘n basiese oorsig oor die basiese komponente van die klankbaan, en fokus op die beskrywing en analise van die eienskappe van ambience – ‘n onderafdeling van klankeffekte. By die Universiteit van Stellenbosch is onlangs ‘n begin gemaak met navorsing oor die terreine van filmmusiek en Foley, d.w.s. klankeffekte geassosieer met menslike bewegings op die skerm.. Hierdie tesis beoog om ‘n oorsig te gee van oudio post-produksie en die bydrae van klank tot die filmmedium. Dit verskaf ‘n oorsig oor die prosesse betrokke by die daarstelling van ‘n filmklankbaan en sluit ook in ‘n beskrywing van die komponente van die klankbaan en aanbevelings vir die praktiese toepassing daarvan.

El Exorcista, una película del género de terror dirigida por William Friedkin en 1973, no solo es un clásico del género; también es un referente para el cine de horror realizado después. Ello se debe a su tratamiento de asuntos que resultaban inéditos para el género, como la sexualidad infantil, y a las características de la representación del proceso de transformación física de una niña poseída, así como al diseño de su banda sonora y de todos sus componentes: la palabra, los ruidos o efectos sonoros, las atmósferas creadas con ellos, la música y el silencio. Todos ellos se orientan a la creación de un clima de horror visceral, donde el miedo provocado por el género convive con el disgusto, el asco y la repulsión causados por los elementos de la representación fílmica. Este artículo describe e interpreta la singularidad de ese tratamiento sonoro de El Exorcista, apuntando aquello que ha resultado influyente en el curso de la historia del género de terror. / The Exorcist, a film of horror genre directed by William Friedkin in 1973, is not only a classic of the genre; it is also a reference to horror films made later. This is due to its treatment of issues that were unprecedented for the genre, such as infantile sexuality, and the characteristics of the representation of the process of physical transformation of a possessed girl, and the design of the soundtrack and all its components: voice, sound effects, atmospheres created with them, music and silence. They are aimed at creating a climate of visceral horror, where fear caused by gender coexists with disgust, repugnance and repulsion caused by the elements of filmic representation. This article describes and interprets the uniqueness of the sound treatment of The Exorcist, pointing what has been influential in the course of the history of the horror genre. / Trabajo de investigación