SOUND IN 'SERENITY'

The music in Serenity is used to create effects, for example when the rebels are getting ready to go to the raid on the factory. There is percussion music, including drums for instance. This makes the music simple but intense, with a strong beat that creates tension and gives the scene a feeling of importance. The music also builds in pace and tempo, which has the effect of creating suspense, a typical convention in the Action and Adventure genre. The music also heightens the intensity and makes the scene feel like it's getting to a climax, again showing suspense and tension. As well as this, the music can create an anti-climax, where the music swells to a climax, but then nothing happens in the narrative. Then, suddenly, if the music stops, this creates the effect of something very big and possibly dangerous which is about to happen. Therefore, music can create effects when it is playing and when it stops abruptly.

Another example of sound in Serenity is the sound of weaponry. For instance, the sound of the shotguns being loaded. It is a heavy, clanking, metallic sound, which immediately sounds intimidating and threatening. This creates the effect on the viewer of knowing that these men are very willing and able to use these weapons. It makes them seem dangerous, and makes it sound as if there will be a fight scene later on, which helps build tension. The sounds of the machine guns being fired later on also creates effects but different ones to the loading of the guns. The sound is very authentic, making the scene feel real and therefore involving the viewer in the world the characters are in. The sound of the weapons also adds to the spectacle of the fight scenes and conflict between the heroes and villains (more key codes and conventions associated with the Action and Adventure genre).

NB: I'm sorry if any of the descriptions are slightly inaccurate; I couldn't find the scene online so I did it from memory of what we watched in class