Jaws Analysis
“The Hooper” scene from Jaws has stood against the test of
time and is a great example of how to create perfect synergy between sound
production and imagery. The deep dark blue ocean is a scary abyss, open, deep
and unknown. Spielberg recognises the human fear of the unknown and uses this in
his sound design to create a powerful effect in this scene.
The silence at the very start (with the use of foley water
effects to add realism) makes the audience uncomfortable, paralleled with the
dark ocean, we are waiting for something to happen. As the Hooper adjusts his
goggles, a dark shape in the distance draws closer; Jaw’s leitmotif starts, a
deeply pitched, melodic beat, rising in amplitude and tempo, almost replicating
the audience’s heartbeat as Jaw’s gets closer.
As Jaw’s approaches the cage and the music reaches its
pinnacle, the shark seemingly swims away, leaving the audience in silent
anticipation. This silence increases the dramatic effect for when Jaw’s
suddenly appears on the other side of the cage, the powerful chords and
dissonant melodies strike as this terrifying dark figure strikes and startles
the audience. The scrambling of the Hooper in these few seconds is replicated
and given dramatic effect by the music, making him seem powerless.
In the struggle the Hooper drops his harpoon, and the foreboding
leitmotif starts again. As the Hooper looks around in a panic of what to do,
this part is again increased with the dramatic effect of parallel sound; fast
scrambled tempo with a high pitch gives the audience a taste of the Hooper’s panic.
As the music plays out, Jaw’s attacks the cage again, this time for an extended
period. The Hooper cries are muffled from being underwater; giving it a feel of
a certain hopeless fate. The pitch of the screeching music in this scene somewhat
resembles the noise of Jaw’s great teeth ripping apart the steel cage as he
relentlessly attacks his victims shelter.
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