Audio Analysis; Meat Factory Ear Worms

Meat Factory Ear Worms— Audio Analysis

The main elements of this audio piece is the voice over of the narrator, the machinery noises of the factory and the music. The repetition of the same lyrics and how the narrator repeats the phases reflects this idea of ‘Ear worms’, a term used to describe when a song is stuck in your head. 

This audio piece has a purpose of telling a story of this man—the narrator—whom used to work on the killing lines of a meat factory around Ireland and states to have been ‘plagued by a few ear worms’ in his life time. Now he is reminiscing those days, and those songs he once heard during his days in the factory now represent a certain period of his lifetime. I feel that this audio piece portrays that rather well and does it in a very interesting and entertaining way that makes it so that we as the audience are really drawn to what’s happening in the background with the machinery and the song lyrics. 

It’s a rather strange but also unique story told through nothing but simple audio composition and combines two rather different things. A meat factory where they kill animals is almost juxtaposed to the upbeat, lively music that the narrator is singing along to. 

Experimental Film Analysis; Ballet Mécanique

Ballet Mécanique is a great example of experimental film in abstract form. It is one of the earliest experimental films to have ever been made and, as explained in Bordwell and Thompsons Film Art, it's a classic example of how mundane objects can be transformed when their abstract qualities are used as the basis for a films form. 

At first glance, the film may seem random, nothing more than a bombardment of random objects and a woman edited in different ways, but delving further into it’s construction and themes, Ballet Mécanique actually has many complex motifs and hidden meanings. From the title, we can only think that the film would be based on ballet as a form of dance and I was very surprised, albeit confused by the way Ballet Méchanique was presented. It puts emphasis on seemingly random objects such as horse collars, hats, faces and more in strange edits and almost kaleidoscope-like imagery. Immediately, we’re confused, but also intrigued. 

It’s only after viewing it a few more times that I realise the mechanical vibe of the footage and movement. The rhythm and stylisation of the film is indeed very experimental, but it also has meaning and theme. The woman is portrayed as the machinery, whereas the other moving images seem to dance along the screen, ironic to how ballet and ballerinas are supposed to be graceful and elegant, the womans facial expressions and movements are almost robotic. Ballet Méchanque, again quoting Bordwell and Thompson, ‘uses of film techniques to stress the geometric qualities of ordinary things’ and I personally find it fascinating and enjoyable. 

Short Film Analysis; Salaryman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VRJ5OAtR5E

Shot in Tokyo, Japan; Salaryman is a 6 minute short film that tells a modern tale of the day-to-day life of a Japanese working man and his extremely tedious and repetitive life style. 

This theme of a cyclic and mundane lifestyle is very well implied through the narrative of the short film as well as the dreary settings and simplistic shots and editing that is used. It very much represents the life of every working man, which is able to give the short film a sense of realism and practicality. Despite that our main protagonist—Shiode—is suffering from short term memory loss, it can be argued that his life wouldn’t have been much different with or without his condition. 

Knight could’ve done research on Japan for him to be able to understand it’s culture, and it’s very strong and different work ethnic, especially in Tokyo. He could’ve also looked into the condition of short term memory loss, and it’s effects on people’s state of mind. 

I felt that the use of voice over was interesting, and the monotonous voice of the character itself was able to set a certain tone throughout the film, Knight could’ve used this technique in order for the audience to understand the concept and possibly to be able to relate and understand the character more. It also adds an interesting effect on an otherwise repetitive and dry narrative. 

It was an enjoyable watch, despite its repetitiveness, and I appreciated it's artistic yet realistic take on the every day life of a working man.