Abstract
Music in film does more than enhance emotion—it actively shapes how we perceive and experience the narrative. Film music can guide our attention, manipulate our sense of time, and influence what we remember about a story.
In this talk, I will go through some of the narrative functions music serves through its rhythmic interaction with film editing, movement, and dramatic structure. Drawing on cognitive approaches to film-music perception, alongside insights from experimental research on absorption and attention, I will discuss some of the cognitive mechanisms underlying film music's narrative power and its importance in creating cycles of tension and release.
We will watch and listen to examples from cinema to experience these principles firsthand. Whether you're a film buff or simply curious about film music, come discover how sound and image work together to shape our experiences! Popcorn is encouraged.
Bio
Mikael Hope is a doctoral research fellow at RITMO with a background in media composition and cognitive psychology. His research focuses on understanding how we perceive film and music together, using behavioral measurements, eye-tracking, and pupillometry to investigate how music influences viewer absorption, attention, and the experience of time in film.