Music in film significantly influences audience emotions and perception, suggesting that musical cues may be cultural universals. Soundtracks shape narrative experiences by eliciting specific emotional responses, impacting how messages are received and interpreted.
Music plays a critical role in how we experience and interpret films. It has the power to evoke emotional responses, whether that be joy, sadness, or fear, heightening the impact of a scene. Consider a film where the opening shot shows the protagonist seated solemnly on a bench. With a soothing soundtrack, laced with a hint of sadness, the audience may intuit the character's loneliness. Yet, if we change the music to something louder and dissonant, it suddenly suggests impending danger, and the audience is on edge. This demonstrates the powerful influence music has on an audience's perception.
It is possible that these types of musical cues are cultural universals, as they seem to draw similar emotional responses across various cultures. This idea posits that music transcends linguistic and cultural barriers, tapping into something more primal within the human experience. As Kiara Pipino suggests, sounds and music significantly influence the audience's reception, whether it be in theatre or cinema.
The artistic choices made in a production profoundly affect the audience's perception and connection to the narrative. Similarly, in aspects of communication like scriptwriting, the chosen tone can greatly affect how the message is received, underscoring the relationship between auditory elements and audience engagement.