In the film Wonder by Stephen Chbosky music contributes significantly to the character development of Auggie Pullman, the protagonist. Auggie is a ten-year-old boy suffering from Treacher Collings Syndrome who tries to find his place in the world. The following text is going to focus on three songs of the film that present Auggie’s personal growth from the beginning to the end of the film.
The main aim of this paper is to show that Auggie’s development can be clearly seen in music. Marcelo Zarvos, the composer, uses various techniques of film music to highlight Auggie’s feelings and actions, which I would like to investigate based on three different songs.
At first, I am going to outline the stages of Auggie’s development referring to the plot. Afterwards, I am going to analyse and interpret the songs Ordinary Kid, Break the Rules and Graduation concerning its mood, structure and instrumentation. Each of the songs marks a certain point in Auggie’s life; therefore, they are adequate to keep track of Auggie’s process of growth to maturity. Finally, I am going to present that the interplay of mood, structure and instrumentation shape Auggie’s character and also help the audience to empathize with him.
For my analysis, I am going to examine the musical score of the film based on the theory of musical equilibration of Daniela and Bernd Willimek from their book “Musik und Emotionen: Studien zur Strebetendenz-Theorie” and the film scoring composition concepts of Stuart Fischoff from “The Evolution of Music in Film and its Psychological Impact on Audiences”.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Stages of Development
- Insecurity
- Despair
- Gaining Trust
- Misery
- Confidence
- Respect
- Delight
- Song Analysis & Interpretation
- Ordinary Kid
- Break the Rules
- Graduation
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to demonstrate how Auggie Pullman's personal growth in the film Wonder is reflected in its musical score. The analysis focuses on three key songs to trace Auggie's emotional journey.
- Auggie Pullman's emotional and social development
- The role of music in conveying character development in film
- Analysis of musical techniques used to evoke emotion
- The relationship between music, character arc, and audience empathy
- The impact of specific musical elements (mood, structure, instrumentation) on the narrative
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introduction establishes the crucial role of music in film, highlighting its power to evoke emotions and provide insight into characters' thoughts. It specifically focuses on the film Wonder and how its music contributes significantly to the character development of Auggie Pullman, a ten-year-old boy with Treacher Collins Syndrome. The paper's objective is to analyze three songs from the film's score to demonstrate how Auggie's development is reflected in the music, examining the composer's techniques in achieving this.
Stages of Development: This chapter meticulously outlines the various stages of Auggie's emotional and social development throughout the film. It details his initial insecurity stemming from his facial deformity and the fear of social interaction. The chapter then progresses through stages of despair, gaining trust (through a key friendship), experiencing misery (due to betrayal), achieving confidence, earning respect, and ultimately finding delight in his achievements. Each stage is described with specific examples from the film's narrative, setting the stage for the subsequent musical analysis.
Song Analysis & Interpretation: This chapter delves into a detailed analysis of three songs from the film's score: "Ordinary Kid," "Break the Rules," and "Graduation." The analysis considers each song's mood, structure, and instrumentation, linking them to specific moments in Auggie's emotional journey. The chapter discusses how the composer utilizes musical techniques to reflect Auggie's feelings and experiences, making the character more relatable to the audience. The songs are not analyzed in isolation but are contextualized within the overall narrative of Auggie's personal growth, demonstrating how they highlight specific emotional turning points in his life. This chapter explicitly connects the musical analysis to the earlier outlined stages of Auggie's development, providing a powerful synthesis of the narrative and musical elements.
Keywords
Film music, character development, Wonder, Auggie Pullman, emotional arc, musical analysis, Treacher Collins Syndrome, Underscoring, film score, Marcelo Zarvos, audience empathy.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Wonder's Musical Score and Auggie Pullman's Development
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the relationship between the musical score of the film "Wonder" and the emotional and social development of its main character, Auggie Pullman. It examines how specific musical choices reflect Auggie's journey throughout the film.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores Auggie Pullman's emotional and social development, the role of music in conveying character development in film, the analysis of musical techniques used to evoke emotion, the relationship between music, character arc, and audience empathy, and the impact of specific musical elements (mood, structure, instrumentation) on the narrative.
What stages of Auggie's development are discussed?
The paper outlines several stages in Auggie's development, including initial insecurity, despair, gaining trust, experiencing misery, achieving confidence, earning respect, and ultimately finding delight. Each stage is connected to specific events in the film and analyzed in relation to the musical score.
Which songs from the film's score are analyzed?
The paper focuses on a detailed analysis of three songs: "Ordinary Kid," "Break the Rules," and "Graduation." The analysis considers each song's mood, structure, instrumentation, and how these elements connect to specific moments in Auggie's emotional journey.
How does the paper connect the music to Auggie's development?
The paper meticulously links the musical analysis to the outlined stages of Auggie's development. It demonstrates how the composer uses musical techniques to reflect Auggie's feelings and experiences at various points in the narrative, enhancing the audience's understanding and empathy.
What is the overall objective of this analysis?
The primary objective is to demonstrate how Auggie Pullman's personal growth is effectively reflected in the musical score of "Wonder." The analysis aims to showcase the composer's skill in using music to deepen audience understanding and emotional connection with the character.
What keywords are associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: Film music, character development, Wonder, Auggie Pullman, emotional arc, musical analysis, Treacher Collins Syndrome, Underscoring, film score, Marcelo Zarvos, and audience empathy.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured with an introduction, a chapter detailing Auggie's developmental stages, a chapter dedicated to the song analysis, and a conclusion. A table of contents is provided for easy navigation.
What is the intended audience for this paper?
This paper is intended for academic use, focusing on the analysis of themes related to film music, character development, and emotional storytelling.
- Citation du texte
- Anonym (Auteur), 2020, The personal evolution of August Pullman presented in the score of "Wonder" by Stephen Chbosky, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1289046
