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Sound design for a found future : Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men

2011; Routledge; Volume: 9; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/17400309.2011.521714

1740-7923

W. J. Whittington,

Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life

Through a close analysis of Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men (2006), this paper considers the intersection of science fiction genre studies and contemporary sound theory, specifically addressing the nature of ‘hearing’ as related to the lead character's ‘point of audition’ and subjectivity. The paper unpacks the key aspects of the sound design from sound effects planning and creation to music orchestration and placement. The line of argument concludes that while the initial sound design reveals a pattern of sonic dissolution to establish a sense of ‘apocalyptic dread’, ‘the future’ is recuperated through the deployment of transformative sounds, in particular the defining sound effect – the cries of a newborn child, which represent a sense of hope and renewal in this found future.