The Gendered Score: Music in 1940s Melodrama and the Woman's Film

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Music
Cover of the book The Gendered Score: Music in 1940s Melodrama and the Woman's Film by Heather Laing, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Heather Laing ISBN: 9781351544054
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: July 5, 2017
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Heather Laing
ISBN: 9781351544054
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: July 5, 2017
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Heather Laing examines, for the first time, the issues of gender and emotion that underpin the classical style of film scoring, but that have until now remained unquestioned and untheorized, thus providing a benchmark for thinking on more recent and alternative styles of scoring. Many theorists have discussed this type of music in film as a signifier of emotion and 'the feminine', a capacity in which it is frequently associated with female characters. The full effect of such an association on either female or male characterization, however, has not been examined. This book considers the effects of this association by progress through three stages: cultural-historical precedents, the generic parameters of melodrama and the woman's film, and the narrativization of music in film through diegetic performance and the presence of musicians as characters. Case studies of specific films provide textual and musical analyses, and the genres of melodrama and the woman's film have been chosen as representative not only of the epitome of the Hollywood scoring style, but also of the narrative association of women, emotion and music. Laing leads to the conclusion that music functions as more than merely a signifier of emotion. Rather, it takes a crucial role in both indicating and determining how emotion is actually understood as part of the construction of gender and its representation in film.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Heather Laing examines, for the first time, the issues of gender and emotion that underpin the classical style of film scoring, but that have until now remained unquestioned and untheorized, thus providing a benchmark for thinking on more recent and alternative styles of scoring. Many theorists have discussed this type of music in film as a signifier of emotion and 'the feminine', a capacity in which it is frequently associated with female characters. The full effect of such an association on either female or male characterization, however, has not been examined. This book considers the effects of this association by progress through three stages: cultural-historical precedents, the generic parameters of melodrama and the woman's film, and the narrativization of music in film through diegetic performance and the presence of musicians as characters. Case studies of specific films provide textual and musical analyses, and the genres of melodrama and the woman's film have been chosen as representative not only of the epitome of the Hollywood scoring style, but also of the narrative association of women, emotion and music. Laing leads to the conclusion that music functions as more than merely a signifier of emotion. Rather, it takes a crucial role in both indicating and determining how emotion is actually understood as part of the construction of gender and its representation in film.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Visions of Development by Heather Laing
Cover of the book The Politics of Sex by Heather Laing
Cover of the book Want, Waste or War? by Heather Laing
Cover of the book Kenya by Heather Laing
Cover of the book Guilty Money by Heather Laing
Cover of the book White Party, White Government by Heather Laing
Cover of the book Doing Research/Reading Research by Heather Laing
Cover of the book Life Along the South Manchurian Railroad by Heather Laing
Cover of the book Course Notes: Medical Law and Ethics by Heather Laing
Cover of the book Introducing Philosophy of Art by Heather Laing
Cover of the book Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to Berkeley and the Principles of Human Knowledge by Heather Laing
Cover of the book The Internationalisation of Retailing by Heather Laing
Cover of the book Practice Notes on Planning Law by Heather Laing
Cover of the book The Good Society by Heather Laing
Cover of the book Human Rights and the Reinvention of Freedom by Heather Laing
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy