Contrapuntal sound technique

After researching Short films that particularly replace dialogue with either off-screen or diegetic sound,  it has become obvious to us that we want to try to use a Contrapuntal sound technique when it comes to editing our piece. Contrapuntal sound occurs when the music and visual elements play against each other, and are in contrast, whereas if we were to use Parallel sound it describes the condition where audio and visual effects match, not in sync, but in tone and mood.

We found some sort of chat room where people have shared texts that respond to contrapuntal sound and the results were interesting.

1. Reservoir Dogs - Ear scene 

A Crime/Thriller that uses the original of 'Stuck in the Middle with you by Stealers Wheel. The track is a piece country/folk rock from the early 70's which accompanies a gruesome scene of Michael Madsen cutting a police officers ear off. The piece of music is actually diegetic sound as he turns on the radio before he takes his action, rather than the music being completely unrelevant to the scene. I believe this clip does use contrapuntal sound due to the song being ebullient rather than something along the lines of being loomy and thrilling if to offer parallel sound. Although I find the lyrics do correspond to some aspects of the scene possibly from the victim's perspective.

'Well I don't know why I came here tonight,
I got the feeling that something ain't right,
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair,
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs.'

By using this particular piece of music, as part of the audience I don't expect what is going to happen. In responce to Steve Neale's theory of the audiences expectations of a film judging by particular conventions of a genre.   

2. American Psycho - Paul Allen scene (axe)

Is a psychological thriller based on a Wall Street yuppie (young urban professional) played by Patrick Bateman whose mental instability and blood lust lead him to serial killing. In this scene Bateman slashes a very drunk and vulnerable 'yuppie' with an axe where the contrapuntal diagetic sound is introduced. The track is Huey Lewis And the News - Hip To Be Square which is a pop/rock band which was vapid in 80s pop. Through dialogue Bateman at the beginning of the scene suggests the band by questioning his victim if he likes them, then throughout the clip right until the gruesome action, Patrick Bateman is critical about the band and there success. This is an interesting way Mary Harron (director) has introduced the piece of music to accompany the serial killing. Again, the lyrics to the song in some ways reflect the characters within the scene;

 'I used to be a renegade, I used to fool around
But I couldn't take the punishment, and had to settle down' 

'Don't tell me that I'm crazy
Don't tell me I'm nowhere'.

although some of the lyrics are also a personal statement about the band itself.

3. Fallout 3 (opening cinematic)

Is a video game that uses a 1940's post war piece of music to support a futuristic conflict in 2077. Although this is not an actual film to support my film production, the diminutive use of contrapuntal sound is interesting as it is parallel with the subject. "The Fallout 3 intro 1950 style vacuum tube components flicker as the view scrolls back from the old world radio, revealing a derelict bus and a ruined city as the radio plays 'I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire' sung by The Ink Spots. Above the bus windows, there are posters encouraging people to enlist with the US Army". As the view point tracks out of the bus, the song diminishes into the distance which is replaced with an eary, echoed howling. "The Ink Spots were a popular vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop. They and the Mills Brothers, another black vocal group of the same period, gained much acceptance in the white community."

4.Road to Perdition - Kill Sullivan scene 

I'll start with recognizing the clever way the contrapuntal sound is introduced  by it being played in another pat of the loccation, just not in frame, resulting in being diegetic sound. It is American crime film directed by Sam Mendes. The plot takes place in 1931, "during the great depression following a mob enforcer and his son as they seek vengeance against a mobster who murdered the rest of their family."

In conclusion to reviewing pieces of texts that use a contrapuntal sound technique, they all just happen to correspond a negative situation i.e Thriller, Horror, Crime, but are all accompanied by positive pieces of music that may often be played in Comedy's. Also i have discovered video games seem to use contrapuntal sound alot within trailers and game introductions.