Blog about Musicals: 2013

Hairspray and Grease!
Musical genre

Hairspray- Hairspray is a film that was made in 2007 but was set in 1962. In the first few scenes you automatically class it as a musical because one of the main characters starts to sing a song about her hometown. As the film kicks in, you learn that Tracy and her best friend Penny want to be on their favourite TV programme. Its a teen dance show which also gives you clues to it being a musical because a musical is all about singing and dancing.

Examples of non diegetic & diegetic sounds in Hairspray-

1) When Tracy sings the opening number as she dances down the Baltimore streets, the passers-by do not appear to notice that Tracy's singing. This suggests that the singing and accompanying music is non-diegetic.

Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjjWJEeVpBw

2) An example of a diegetic sound is when one of the songs called 'The new girl in town' is sung on The Corny Collins Show. They are part of a television broadcast so it can be heard by all of the characters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRi2T6mgH3Y

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Grease- Grease is a film which was made in the year 1978 and was set in a 1950's high school. When the opening credits start, a song plays whilst introducing cartoon versions of the main characters. In the first few opening scenes, the T-birds and Pink ladies start singing a song about the Summer they had with a few added dance moves. Its very similar to Hairspray when it comes to the singing and dancing side.

Examples of non diegetic & diegetic sounds in Grease-

1) In the scene where Danny is racing, the background music is non-diegetic. However the diegetic sounds are the cars engines and the characters cheering and talking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsYC-hVEpOm

2) In the very last scene which is where they're all singing in the theme park, there is a mixture of both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds. The clapping is pre-recorded, its relevant but you can't see it. You don't see where the music is coming from you can just see the characters singing.

Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pyA6jAM3_I

Codes and conventions of musical films:

1) Love plays a great theme in musicals. (Happens in both.)

2) Characters break out into songs/dances a lot. (Happens in both.)

3) All the characters have different personalities which adds perspective to the main plot. (Happens in both.)

4) The main lovers/couples always seem to have obstacles thrown at them but in the end they presumably get together and we assume they all live happily ever after. (Happens in both.)

5) - All of the songs they seem to be expressing feelings/emotions. (Happens in both.)

Comparisons between the two films-

1) Both of the films have one main couple.

Grease: Sandy and Danny

Hairspray: Tracy and Link

2) The two main men and women in both films have their own
           song and dance where they are lead.

                                         Grease: Danny Zuko