The Very Short Introductions Podcast Film Music – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 28
Apr 29, 2021
Join Kathryn Kalinak, a Professor of English and Film Studies, as she dives into the fascinating world of film music. She explores the evolution of film music from mere accompaniment to a powerful storytelling tool. Kalinak discusses how it shapes narrative flow, character emotions, and captures themes. She also analyzes iconic scores like Franz Waxman's haunting melody for Rebecca and Miklós Rózsa's theremin use in Spellbound, revealing how music can evoke deep psychological connections in cinema.
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Episode notes
Listen To Film Music Intentionally
- Kathryn Kalinak urges listeners to start listening to film music rather than merely hearing it at the cinema.
- She recommends attentive listening to uncover how music shapes meaning and emotion in film.
Becoming A Film Music Scholar
- Kathryn Kalinak describes her path from double-major student to film music scholar after an influential dissertation suggestion.
- She joined the first academic wave studying film music in the late 1970s–90s when the field was emerging.
Music Glues Film Structure And Emotion
- Kathryn Kalinak argues film music is crucial to a film's construction and flow, binding disparate shots and times.
- She says music both reveals character and directs audience emotion, increasing identification and enjoyment.
