The Sound Bar invites you to explore the world of dystopian cinematic sound. Visitors can browse through a handpicked selection of key dystopian scenes from classic Hollywood and Art House motion pictures.

What does dystopia sound like? Does it sound shrill, hushed, distorted or over-theatrical… or is it silent? Can music and film sound design reveal something about the essence of the dystopian? Does an understanding of the acoustic construction of the dystopian help to get a better grasp of dystopia itself? For example, in answering what type of threat it represents. Such as, is it violent or subtle? Evil or intelligent? Tempting or unsettling? And which musical, tonal and technical means are used to create the sounds?

Film scenes will show only as a black image to be able to focus more completely on the sound. Only a brief image description divulges time, location and context.

Films include Alphaville (1965), 2001: A Space Odyssey( 1968), Solaris (1972), Westworld (1973), Zardoz (1974), Mad Max (1979), Stalker (1979), Blade Runner (1982), The Thing (1982), The Terminator (1984), The Matrix (1999), Wall-e (2008) and Interstellar (2014), amongst others.

 

Compilation and commentary by Mario Asef and Golo Föllmer. Scientific consultation: Selçuk Artut.

Image: dystopia-utopia.com (Selçuk Artut)