Does the soundtrack of "Bridget Jones’s Diary" support the atmosphere of its novel?

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

2 How does music alter the atmosphere of a movie?

3 The atmosphere in the movie

4 The atmosphere in the novel

5 Conclusion

6 Bibliography

7 Appendix

Editor's note: The appendix is not part of this publication.

1 Introduction

“It is not easy to determine the nature of music, or why any one should have a knowledge of it.” (Aristotle 453)

Aristotle is not the only one who points out that it is hard to define the influence of music. Concerning film music also Rabenalt assures the difficulty of classifying and indicating music (cf. Rabenalt 271). Sounds are always subjective and individual.

Since the beginning of movie development, music plays an important role. Film music existed way before the first dialogues were introduced into movies, which happened in 1927. When there were only silent movies, music was added to create a crowd puller, dynamics and atmosphere. Furthermore, people used to be scared of film screening because the rooms were dark and the projectors were very loud. Music was played to loosen the atmosphere (cf. Kreuzer 20). Nowadays the soundtrack is fully integrated into the film production process. Filmmakers are utterly in control in regard to music (cf. Thompson 213). Thus every sound carries exactly the meaning it is supposed to. But how far does the soundtrack shape the ambience and is it able to convey a special meaning?

In written language is a lot of space for atmosphere as well. With descriptions and more detailed plots an atmosphere is created and developed. Moreover, aspects like the position of the narrator and the writing style of the author determine the ambience and help the ready to easily understand and feel emotions.

Bridget Jones’s Diary is a popular adaption and both, novel and movie, have a strong noticeable atmosphere. But does this atmosphere differ or does the soundtrack support the atmosphere of the novel completely?

To find an answer to these questions I will first prove the effect of music. Therefore, I will take a scene out of the movie and alter the music to create a different atmosphere and following, a different meaning.

Next I am going to analyse the introduction of the movie in respect of music. I will divide the beginning of the movie into two diverse parts. In the first one the music is played as background music and only subconsciously audible. In the second part it leads the action completely.

Finally, an analyses of the beginning of the novel will be made. Here I am going to analyse the atmosphere chronologically and afterwards thematic with the help of an article by the famous writer Esther Newton.

2 How does music alter the atmosphere of a movie?

Often the soundtrack of a movie is underestimated by the audience. It is only perceived in the background, especially at instrumentals. But music creates a base for the whole meaning of a visual play. Therefore, there are three different compositional techniques. Underscoring is used to echo motion and action. The most popular type of Underscoring is “Micky Mousing”, like in the famous movies of Charlie Chaplin. If a certain character or place gets a specific melody which is repeated everytime when it appears on the screen, the technique is called Leitmotif technique. The third one is the mood technique which musically emphasizes the atmosphere. Already in the early 1940’s directors claimed the latter from composers to express emotions and morales which are not conveyed by dialogues (cf. Kreuzer 73). Until now the mood technique is the most popular and most used technique.

Hence music immediately can change the perception of the audience. Concerning this Drees says that sounds have an own semantic room which either supports or interferes with the filmic narration (cf. Heldt 22). Furthermore, Fischer-Lichte points out the interaction of sound and film and its modifying effect on perception and imagination (cf. Fischer-Lichte 128 f.). So music is one of the most important parts of a successful and meaningful movie.

The following example of altering the soundtrack of the fight scene between Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver (Bridget Jones’s Diary 01:09:10), shows the impact of music for the atmosphere of a scene.

2.1. The fight scene without music

Without music the scene seems empty and incomplete.¹ One does not know how to feel or which emotion is truly transmitted. The only way to know if this scene is meant to be funny, dramatic or sad is to know the context. Therefore, one has to watch the movie from beginning on, be very sensitive and attentive throughout every scene to get an idea which atmosphere is supposed to be delivered.

There are of course other indications like speech, tone and countenance which help the audience to understand the atmosphere and emotion of a certain scene. However, music can even change the reading of these indications.

2.2. The fight scene with the original music

Here the spectator is slowly introduced into the atmosphere.² The scene begins also without music. After Mark Darcy's second punch, Bridget's friend runs into a restaurant. The audience immediately knows that it is a Greek restaurant because of the typical Greek music starting to play as the door opens (Ap. 8.1.2. 00:17). From here on the action is accompanied by the bouzouki which is “Greece’s most beloved” and “easily recognizable string instrument” (Dilouambaka).

The scene starts of with a loose atmosphere and ends up in a rather funny mood. The easy sound of the bouzouki smoothly blends into the song It’s Raining Men by The Weather Girls (Ap. 8.1.2. 00:37). The song is very popular, spectators commonly sing along and create a humorous ambience. The fight between the two men gets unserious and harmless.

Likewise, the soundtrack promotes the reflect of society. Two men fighting are classified as masculine and strong, so does the lyrics of the song say “[…] Rough and tough and strong and mean […]”.³

Summarizing, the original music not only creates a funny and loose atmosphere, but also encourages the meaning of the whole plot: The role of women and men in society.

2.3. The fight scene with dramatic music

The music added here gets more and more dramatic as the soundtrack continues.⁴ It is mainly played by strings and a choir which usually is used to create a serious and dangerous atmosphere. Another famous example for string orchestras and their dramatic input, is Alfred Hitchcock’s movie Psycho. In the scene where Norman Bates murders Marion Crane with a knife, simultaneously very high and peaked violins are audible. The knife thrust could not be better set to music (cf. Schmidt 103-104).

As the fight scene in Bridget Jones’s Diary starts and Darcy throws the first punch, the situation already feels sweeping. Bridget’s friend running into the restaurant looks terrified instead of amused and excited like in the original scene (Ap. 8.1.3 00:17). The dark and dangerous ambience is increased with lower played strings and Darcy’s angry look at the same time (Ap. 8.1.3. 00:29). Culminating the men continue their fight in the restaurant.

[...]

¹ Appendix 7.1.1

² Appendix 7.1.2

³ http://www.songtexte.com/songtext/the-weather-girls/its-raining-men-63deba13.html

⁴ Appendix 7.1.3