The Power of Music
I really don't know if music affects other people the way it affects me, but there's something to be said about the "magic" of music. By "magic" I mean that subliminal way that music can affect my mood. And I'm not talking about subltle changes in mood. I'm talking full-on happyness-to-sadness mood swing.
It never fails. I can be having the worst day in the history of man, yet if I turn on some music that happens to be upbeat and has a more positive spin, my day turns around on a dime. I'll go from sad to glad in a matter of seconds (well... that might be a bit exagerated, but you know what I mean).
And the same can be said about the opposite. If I listen to music that has more of a mellow, sombre tone, I'll start to sink into a more thoughtful mood. Brooding on the inconsistencies of life and the frustrations that develop from it.
It's an interesting phenomena. I don't know if it happens to other people, but I know that music can directly affect how I feel. It seems that Hollywood knows this as well.
When you're watching a movie, what happens when the main character overcomes that trial that he/she had been struggling with? Or when an epic pan of the character happens? The music swells to a head and gives the feeling of great majesty or importance.
What happens when the main character is being stalked? Or watched? Or any other creepy thing that may possibly cause harm to the main character or his/her cohorts? The music gets dark and creepy. Cellos and basses creep into our ears and cause our bodies to secrete adrenaline.
The next time you watch a horror movie, turn off the sound. The movie becomes instantly less creepy. Why? Because the music affects how we feel. Music has a mysterious ability to affect our emotions and our bodily state. I say "mysterious" because I have yet to find any scientific explanation for this.
Anyone finds why, please post. I would be most interested.
It never fails. I can be having the worst day in the history of man, yet if I turn on some music that happens to be upbeat and has a more positive spin, my day turns around on a dime. I'll go from sad to glad in a matter of seconds (well... that might be a bit exagerated, but you know what I mean).
And the same can be said about the opposite. If I listen to music that has more of a mellow, sombre tone, I'll start to sink into a more thoughtful mood. Brooding on the inconsistencies of life and the frustrations that develop from it.
It's an interesting phenomena. I don't know if it happens to other people, but I know that music can directly affect how I feel. It seems that Hollywood knows this as well.
When you're watching a movie, what happens when the main character overcomes that trial that he/she had been struggling with? Or when an epic pan of the character happens? The music swells to a head and gives the feeling of great majesty or importance.
What happens when the main character is being stalked? Or watched? Or any other creepy thing that may possibly cause harm to the main character or his/her cohorts? The music gets dark and creepy. Cellos and basses creep into our ears and cause our bodies to secrete adrenaline.
The next time you watch a horror movie, turn off the sound. The movie becomes instantly less creepy. Why? Because the music affects how we feel. Music has a mysterious ability to affect our emotions and our bodily state. I say "mysterious" because I have yet to find any scientific explanation for this.
Anyone finds why, please post. I would be most interested.
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