Visual music : a study on the role of music in South African children’s television programmes from 1976 − 1994

Date
2013-03
Authors
Huisman, Rhonda
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is aimed at providing useful insights into the field of audiovisual perception and understanding in South African children’s programmes, as well as demonstrating how the Congruence-Associationist framework can be of use when investigating these aspects. Music serves as an important element in children’s television programmes, as it is often used to subconsciously stimulate the viewers’ senses. The purpose of this study is to provide a more complete image of the role of music within the context of South African children’s television programmes from 1976 − 1994, using ethnographic research with a focus on case studies. In the first part of the study, a base is formed for analysing music by addressing general roles of music in audiovisual context, as well as children’s development of musical perception and a possible clarification of its origins. Its origins appear to be closely related to language and could explain why music fulfils such a significant role in a variety of interactive contexts. The Congruence-Associationist framework by Annabel Cohen is used as a suitable framework of analysis of music in children’s television by adapting and expanding it into three sections: the observation phase, the interpretation phase and the results phase. In the second part of the study, case studies and scene analyses of six selected children’s programmes are conducted, according to the three sections of the adapted framework of analysis. The findings indicate that music functions in multiple ways according to the focus of the programme, and that it fulfils an appealing and recognisable role in these programmes. It is argued that music serves to support the visuals on screen, influences the general interpretation of the viewer and ultimately provides understanding while facilitating learning. This information could be used in a variety of subjects, thus opening up endless possibilities for further research into the multiple roles of music.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is daarop gerig om nuttige insigte op die gebied van oudiovisuele persepsie en begrip in Suid-Afrikaanse kinderprogramme te verskaf, asook aan te toon hoe die ooreenstemmings-assosiatiewe raamwerk (Congruence-Associationist framework) van Annabel Cohen van nut kan wees wanneer hierdie aspekte ondersoek word. Musiek dien as ‘n belangrike element in die kindertelevisieprogramme, aangesien dit dikwels gebruik word om onbewustelik die sintuie van die betrokke kykers te stimuleer. Hierdie studie poog om ‘n meer volledige beeld van die rol van musiek te verskaf binne die konteks van Suid-Afrikaanse kindertelevisieprogramme vanaf 1976 − 1994. Dit word gedoen met behulp van etnografiese navorsing met ‘n fokus op gevallestudies. In die eerste deel van die studie word ‘n basis gevorm vir die analise van musiek, deur die algemene rol van musiek binne oudiovisuele konteks te bespreek, asook die ontwikkeling van kinders se musikale waarnemingsvermoë en ‘n moontlike verduideliking van die oorsprong van musiek. Die oorsprong van musiek blyk verwant te wees aan taal en kan moontlik die rede wees waarom musiek so ‘n belangrike rol in ‘n verskeidenheid interaktiewe kontekste speel. Die ooreenstemmings-assosiatiewe raamwerk word gebruik as ‘n geskikte raamwerk van ontleding vir musiek in kindertelevisie deur dit aan te pas en in drie afdelings uit te brei, naamlik die waarnemingsfase, die interpretasiefase en die resultaatfase. In die tweede deel van die studie word gevallestudies en toneelontledings van ses gekose kinderprogramme gedoen volgens die drie afdelings van die aangepaste ontledingsraamwerk. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat musiek op vele maniere funksioneer, afhangende van die fokus van die program, terwyl dit ook ‘n aantreklike en identifiseerbare rol in hierdie programme vervul. Daar word aangevoer dat musiek dien om die visuele beeld te ondersteun, die algemene interpretasie van die kyker te beïnvloed en uiteindelik begrip te verskaf terwyl die leerproses vergemaklik word. Hierdie inligting sou gebruik kon word in ‘n verskeidenheid onderwerpe wat weer eindelose moontlikhede vir verdere navorsing in die veelvuldige rolle van musiek blootlê.
Description
Thesis (MDram)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
Keywords
Visual music, Music -- Children's television -- South Africa, Music and television, Theses -- Drama, Dissertations -- Drama
Citation