Frankenstein sound design

By Jess Collins and Anna Smith

Frankenstein sound design

Frankenstein was set in the late 18th Century in Geneva; The Swiss Alps, England and Scotland; Northern Ice.Themes: secrecy, monstrosity and sublime nature. Tones: Gothic, Romantic, Tragic and Fatalistic.

Victor Frankenstein wanted to expand human knowledge He eventually found the secret to the creation of lifeIt took many months of his time creating the body for the creature he was making. The monster was forced to live on his own for 2 years meanwhile Victor was drove to insanity for almost 6 months. 2 years after creating the monster Victor had almost completely erased him from his subconscious mind. Elizabeth Lavenza is murderedAfter the murder of Elizabeth Victor Frankenstein chases the monster to the Northern Ice where he is rescued by Robert Walton.

Context and plot

Frankenstein was set in the late 18th Century in Geneva; The Swiss Alps, England and Scotland; Northern Ice. The themes of the play are secrecy, monstrosity and sublime nature. The tone of the play is Gothic, Romantic, Tragic and Fatalistic.The book and play was about a man, Victor Frankenstein who wanted to expand human knowledge of the creation of life and how to stop death. He eventually found the secret to the creation of life. He then decided to make an attempt to create his own living human being. It took many months of his time creating the body for the creature he was making. Once it had finished and he had given life to it he realised how hideous his fiend was. The monster was forced to live on his own for 2 years meanwhile Victor was drove to insanity for almost 6 months. 2 years after creating the monster Victor had almost completely erased him from his subconscious mind. The climax of the play is the murder of Elizabeth Lavenza in chapter 23. After the murder of Elizabeth Victor Frankenstein chases the monster to the Northern Ice where he is rescued by Robert Walton.

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Frankenstein- The Monster'But your not what I thought it would be, I thought I was making an angel !' were the first words I heard when I came to life. He doesn't think I'm an angel, well if he doesn't think I'm good enough to be his angel then so be it. Nobody will be able to judge me, pick on me when I run away, far away into the deepest depths of the forest where the wolves attack.

As I ran up to the small house, when I heard her voice she sounded so sweet, she was so sweet. She was the first person who actually cared for me, who actually talked to me without trying to kill me. She believed I was good, then he came and hurt me. He thought I was nothing, that I had no feelings but little did he know I would destroy the whole town. He didn't even let me talk, he just took one look at me and thought I was bad, that I would hurt people but as soon as he shot me I changed. I no longer was the creature that tried to love and be loved by all, no I was the creature that people would fear most! I would care for no one, as they didn't care about me. They turned me bad, they turned me evil!

script

But your not what I thought it would be, I thought I was making an angel!

Voice over of victor

During But your not what I thought it would be, I thought I was making an angel! where the monster is quoting Victor a voice over of Victor will play in Unison over the monsters voice. This will be non-diegetic and will be done to represent how Victors harsh words are replaying constantly in the mind of the monster.

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During the rest of the first paragraph we will have gothic dramatic music playing behind the speech, again non-diegetic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdetcnXj0J8&list=PLABA1917C4BD30FEA

Gothic dramatic music

During the rest of the first paragraph we will have gothic dramatic music playing behind the speech, again non-diegetic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdetcnXj0J8&list=PLABA1917C4BD30FEAWe chose this music because it builds tension and is gothic therefore fitting in with the theatrical style of the monologue and the context of the play Frankenstein. We want this music to play up until the line the deepest depths of the forest where the wolves attack and then there to be silence. This will allow the audiences minds to wonder what is going to happened next creating dramatic conflict.

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During the line the deepest depths where the wolves attack we want the diegetic sound of a wolf howling in the distance to be heard.Wolf Howling - YouTube

Wolves howling

During the line the deepest depths where the wolves attack we want the diegetic sound of a wolf howling in the distance to be heard. As the sound is diegetic it will cause a reaction in the monster, this is in keeping with the dark tone and atmosphere of the subject matter. The fact that he reacts with fear from the sound also shows a more vulnerable side to the monster, a side to the monster that is often overlooked by the characters in the play and to us an audience as a matter of fact. This underscores his hidden softer side and allows us to make an emotional connection with the monster which may have been over shadowed by his appearance and sudden outbursts of anger,Wolf howl sound effect 1 - YouTube

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During the first three sentences in the second paragraph of the monsters monologue, softer more sentimental music will play. Piano Music YouTube

Sentimental slower music

During the first three sentences in the second paragraph of the monsters monologue, softer more sentimental music will play. This is because the monster is reminiscing about Elizabeth Lavenza and her kindness towards him; The monster often tries to erase bad memories that occur throughout the play but kind gestures tend to stick in his memory. The music we have chosen allows us to create an emotional gateway with the audience and expresses the monsters fondness of Elizabeth. The music also juxtaposes the previous stanza and therefore again displays the two completely different emotional sides of Victor Frankenstein's creation. Piano Music - YouTube

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In the monologue where the monster says then he came and hurt me the previous dramatic gothic music will slowly crescendo and increase in pace.

First music repeated with faster tempo and underlying beat

monologue where the monster says then he came and hurt me the previous dramatic gothic music will slowly crescendo and increase in pace. This corresponds to the monsters emotional backstory and the words which are being spoken. As the words become more violent and aggressive the pace of the music will to. This will mirror how his rage and upset is growing throughout the final section of the monologue

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Thunder is a iconic sound for Frankenstein and is used in most theoretical productions and is also described in the novel by Mary Shelley. Therefore at the very end of the monologue when the monster says they turned me bad, they turned me evil! a diegetic clash of thunder will be heard, matched with lighting light effects. Thunderstorm - YouTube

Clash of thunder

Thunder is a iconic sound for Frankenstein and is used in most theoretical productions and is also described in the novel by Mary Shelley. Therefore at the very end of the monologue when the monster says they turned me bad, they turned me evil! a diegetic clash of thunder will be heard, matched with lighting light effects. As this is at the end of monologue it shows that although we have seen a softer side to him the reality is that he is a monster and thats how he will be treated and perceived and he as Victor Frankenstein's creation will have to live with his title.Thunderstorm - YouTube

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Thanks for listeningTHE END