Perspective

In this weeks reading, focusing on the perspective of different sounds and soundscapes, Theo Van Leeuwen explains that sound has three ‘zones’ of composition. These three units include Figure (focus), ground (middle-ground) and field (background). Through these three zones, they work to create perspective within a soundscape, for the audience to experience different elements of emotion and feeling.

Leeuwen discusses perspective through certain distances a person many perceive sound. With sound, we have ‘boundaries’ which allows sound to enter in different ways. He states scaled boundaries, some as personal, social and public distances all of which relates between what is presented by sound and the listener. Personal may be between the sound and the listener in a highly private manner- soft, relaxed voices in a low pitch and volume. Social is on a medium ground, not to loud and not to soft, a normal conversation. Public stretches its limits, reached by a person shouting causing a maximally loud sound. Through the perspective of sound, there are visible patterns that film makers may use to directly position and influence the audience to feel or react a certain way, which realistically proves how powerful sound can be.