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Key Use of Sound In Jaws

  

One key element of sound used within the scene above is the use of parallel sound, as soon as the shark starts to approach the swimmers legs the intense, dramatic and threatening music begins to play in sync, therefore the frightening image of the shark attack is complemented by the frightening soundtrack. There is also lots of diegetic sound such as all of the dialogue and the screaming. Some of the screaming whilst still diegetic is also classed as off screen sound as at one point we here it whilst the person screaming isn't in shot. An example of non-diegetic sound within the clip would be the dramatic soundtrack when Jaws appears as the characters within the film cannot hear it, the sudden onset of the sound also helps to emphasise how Jaws can appear out of nowhere at any time within the film. We also see sound that contrasts the image that we see on screen, known as contrapuntal sound. At the end of the clip we see a washed up surfboard which has been torn with clear stains of blood being washed up in the waves, but the sound is nothing but that of the waves calmly washing up on shore, perhaps trying to portray the crueller side of nature, this creates an almost eary atmosphere and is a sound that works well as the calm sound of the waves and silent beach opposes the emotion that is running through those who have just realised what has happened on shore and helps to signify the events importance and that the beach has now become deserted.