Sounds of the unheard - Voices of the silents

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Volume Title

School of Arts, Design and Architecture | Master's thesis
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Date

2023

Department

elo

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Elokuvataiteen maisteriohjelma

Language

en

Pages

75

Series

Abstract

This masters thesis delves into the intricate relationship between sound, perception of time and the cinematic experience, with a particular focus on the usage and effects of unheard sounds. Drawing from interdisciplinary perspectives, it investigates how human hearing influences our temporal perception and the implications of incorporating unheard sounds in film sound design. The research begins by exploring the foundational aspects of cinema, highlighting the significance of the “dark room” and its role in shaping the auditory and visual experience of the audience. It establishes the premise for understanding cinema as an immersive sensory medium. Drawing from cybernetics and communication theories, the first chapter delves into the importance of sound in the cinematic experience from a post-humanist gaze. It examines how sound functions as a means of communication, shaping the audience's perception and emotional response to the visual narrative. After the dark room, the research delves into the realm of unheard sounds, focusing on the two distinct and opposite categories: infrasounds and ultrasounds. It explores their characteristics, existence in the environment, and techniques for capturing them through air, vibrations, or electromagnetic fields. The subjective and abstract nature of unheard sounds and their impact on the subconscious are also investigated. The research develops by establishing a scientific definition of time and exploring how humans perceive time through biological clocks, external references, and intervals. Building upon the understanding of time as a foundational element, this chapter examines the human temporal resolution and the role of sound in temporal perception. It explores how sound can manipulate our perception of time, creating illusions and altering the audience's temporal experience. By considering the multi-sensory nature of cinema, this thesis focuses on the auditory dimension and its ability to shape our temporal experiences. By considering unheard sounds as a powerful tool in the filmmaker's arsenal, this thesis examines their potential to manipulate temporal structures, evoke moods and atmospheres, and heighten the audience's engagement. It explores how inaudible, carefully designed, and strategically placed within the sonic landscape of a film, can create temporal dissonance, anticipation, or suspense, amplifying the impact of visual storytelling.

Description

Supervisor

Koskinen, Pietari

Thesis advisor

Laine, Janne

Keywords

inaudible sounds, post-humanism, temporal perception, somatic sound design, visceral cinema, infrasound, ultrasound, cybernetics

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Citation

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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202401281814

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[master] Taiteiden ja suunnittelun korkeakoulu / ARTS