Altman Reading Response Assignment

1. Altman describes a theme in 1920s film as often a piece of preexisting music

taken from the classical repertory. These pieces were repeated many times
throughout a film, which allowed the audience to associate various characters or
actions with the theme. This differs greatly from a Wagnerian leitmotif. The
stock classical pieces were too well known to be perpetually varied like an
original motif (Altman 215). A theme can be varied in limited ways:
instrumentation, dynamics and keys. Leitmotifs however, can be presented in
different keys, lengths, modes and articulations, to create different moods and
suggest a wider range of emotions.
2. Audiences enjoyed hearing familiar pieces of classical music in silent films
because it allowed them to rediscov[er] their favorites (Altman 217). With the
thematic approach, composers took this phenomenon further. By repeatedly
playing a recognizable romantic theme, filmmakers create a sound audiences pair
with certain characters or actions. This comfortable feeling of familiarity builds
through the film, and can provide relief in moments of climax, danger or intensity.
When embarking on new experiences (real life or in film), people always search
for and crave a way to connect the new unfamiliarity to their previous knowledge
and experiences.
3. Silvers use of music in the Jazz Singer is primarily thematic, but also loosely uses
the concept of leitmotif. Altman notes that the leitmotif is often misrepresented
by the film industry, especially in conjunction with a thematic score. Leitmotifs
rely on short fragments, melodies and rhythms, while a thematic approach uses
much longer segments/complete themes. Silvers uses a thematic approach to
great success in The Jazz Singer. One of the most powerful examples in the film
is the use of Tchaikovskys Romeo and Juliet. This theme is played twice, when
Jakies father is berating him and expelling him from his home and community.
The music captures the intensity of the confrontation, and the heartbreak of
Jakies mother. Furthermore, when the same theme returns in the second scene,
the music draws the audience to the parallels from the beginning of the film.
Silvers use of the same theme shows the viewer that throughout the film, Jakies
father has not evolved enough (yet) to forgive his son. The theme plays
throughout the entire scene- if Silvers wished to use leitmotifs, much smaller
themes/ideas would be presented, changing quickly for each character and their
actions.