Film Music Captivates Minds -- New Study

A new research has found that music and sound in films not only enhance the film’s narrative, but also affect the ways in which one perceives himself. For the study, researchers from the University of Oslo used the award-winning pervasive drama "The Memory Dealer" by Rik Lander, a theatrical experience that used the audience as active participants, in which they are emotionally, mentally and physically involved in the drama.

The participants were all employees at the University of Nottingham. Nanette Nielsen, a newly appointed researcher at the University of Oslo, was the lead researcher of the study. She studied musicology and philosophy and has co-authored the book "Music and Ethics" with Marcel Cobussen. Nielsen stated that though the technique was not new, this was the first time someone had attempted to study the effect of music and sound on an individual.

Initially the participants were unaware of their roles, but music played a great role and it helped them become less self-conscious and more confident, she explained. “It made them hold on to the right amount of self-reflection and engagement so that they weren't pulled out of the experience,” Nielsen added.

They further found out that as commonly thought to be, music not just drove the narrative forward, it had a deeper role to play. The participants connected to the music on an emotional level. For them, it was a medium in itself not seen as a means of supporting a visual medium. It helped them understand their own role in the play, said Nielsen.

According to her, music moves individual and has a deeper emotional impact. It can also weave thoughts and varied imaginations, evoking certain emotions. It can also bring back old memories and ideas, causing individuals to become emotional about their thoughts. “Music can quite simply contribute towards shaping the stories of our lives. The players moved away from the spectator perspective and became first-perspective holders in the experience. The music helped to shape this experience” she stated.

She also explained that music not only helped participants understand their roles, it also helped them understand who they were as separate individuals. This, she stated, is due to the ability of sound to create and ambiance or atmosphere that was almost physical. The study concluded that music and sound affect one’s attitude, morals and behaviour. It is not seen as a part of a film by the viewer, but the viewer becomes an active participant and the music affects him and his experience. The study helps understand ordinary films and their effect on the human mind. It helps us understand our actions and influences our behaviour.

The study will be published in The Journal of Sonic Studies.

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