If one has to decipher the exceedingly intrinsic elements of David Lynch’s mystifying body of work, the significance of sound and sound design would form the crux of his modus operandi in storytelling. Lynch himself considers the aspect of sound design and soundtrack to be an integral constituent of his films. In his collaboration with Angelo Badalamenti, Lynch has carved a niche for a multitude of dark and evocative soundtracks. Blue Velvet is the prime example; one of those gems that composes the trademark “Lynchian” resonance.
Even the visuals complement the auditory essence of Lynch’s approach to storytelling in Blue Velvet. This is beautifully emphasized by the use of an “ear” as a suggestive leitmotif in the film, the subtext being the subversive interpretation of the ear being a physical organ with a hole, suggesting a deep plunge into somewhere mysterious.
Despite having a stirring soundtrack, one cannot deny the presence of elaborate sound design in Lynch’s films. Blue Velvet’s intricate sound design is a characteristic sonic milestone. A fact that is often overlooked is that “silence” is also an element of sound design. If orchestrated efficiently, silence exemplifies the lull before the storm. That’s precisely what’s evident in several sequences of Blue Velvet. One of the major instances is the climatic scene, where the protagonist Jeffrey follows Frank. As the scene starts, Jeffrey climbs up Dorothy’s apartment, and no sound accompanies his stealth. This silence is an indication of “hyperrealism” in sound, as if one were to stalk someone stealthily; the ambience could be eerily soundless. Also, this makes the scenario tangible for the viewer as it recreates the real feeling. Whereas, when Jeffrey proceeds, we hear the ambient noises of his footsteps and keys, which are intensified for cinematic effect, which can very easily be referenced as “The Cocktail Party Effect”. Also, from this portion of the scene, a minimal score in the background, which heightens the tension, supplements the effective sound design. Following this, once again silence is maintained when Jeffrey enters the room and sees two men dead. What breaks the silence next is a radio that produces a harsh sound, and terrifies Jeffrey as well as the viewer.
As evident in the aforementioned paragraph, the heightening of sound effects as a form of “The Cocktail Party Effect” is one of the sound techniques Lynch and his sound designer Alen Splet compellingly employ. For instance, there are several sounds that are exaggerated for cinematic effect such as Gunshot (when Frank is shot), car honking, screeching tires, footsteps, cigarettes etc. Such sound effects complement the visuals efficiently and help in imparting a certain amount of edginess to the proceedings.
Another auditory aspect that makes Blue Velvet stand out is amazing musical compositions at important intervals of the story. Characters have thematic musical compositions at important points in the story that define their personas and journey into the bizarre world that Lynch has shaped for them. For instance, the song “In Dreams” plays two times in the course of the antagonist Frank’s (Dennis Hooper) journey on screen. The first time we hear the song, its at his friend’s place, where he initially mimes the words. Frank is hypnotized at first but then his expressions almost abruptly change to anger. His character appears to have a deep rooted, perplexing and bizarre emotional relation to the song, which is essentially a “love song”. This suggests a possibly devastating meaning for Frank, putting forward his persona through his connection to this song. Thus, the usage of this particular soundtrack in the film helps in bestowing the character with an inexplicable degree of depth.
Juxtaposition of sound over visuals at critical junctures of the story is an essential element of storytelling, especially if its sound of humans. This is best illustrated in the sex scene between Jeffrey and Dorothy when primal screams are collocated along with the disturbing visuals. This demonstrates how Lynch effectively uses the aspect of human sound to create a visually explicit yet subliminal impact on the psyches of the viewer’s mind.
In conclusion, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Blue Velvet is one of those movies that encapsulated sound like very few films. David Lynch, along with his composer Angelo Badalamenti and sound designer Alen Splet create a haunting atmosphere that enthralls the viewers in more ways than one.
No comments:
Post a Comment