Andrew Garmon Music and a Movie 4/22

Several classes throughout the year Dr Redick had played a song or some music to get us thinking. Recently I have been thinking about music and what it does. Unlike most Americans, I do not listen to music on a regular basis. I hardly listen to music at all. Personally, I do not believe in multitasking by doing something and listening to music. Some people like to do homework while listening to music, I just find it distracting. As we listened to music selected by Dr Redick throughout the semester I started thinking. What is the function of music? Through the songs we listened to and the discussions that followed, I started looking at music as a mood setter, or something to help time transition. We discussed in class how music can help someone reach that sense of flow. I started thinking about listening to music before you do something, and how it might affect you.

Whenever I have heard music in the movies it was most always to help transition. Just something played over silence. The movie we watch in class about the through hikers on the AT changed my mind about everything. I had never heard music used so wonderfully in a film before. Each transition had a perfect song helping the transition between scenes. The song helped the viewer of the movie get in to flow with the movie. The movie was great, really seemed to capture the whole sense of the AT. It was a really strong movie.

What struck me most about the movie was one line. It was at the end, where the through hikers were speaking of their experiences on the AT. For most of their comments, I was prepared for as we had been learning about what through hikers go throw and their experiences on the AT. It was an emotional scene at the end where one of the through hikers said, “The trail, the trail fixes you.” I found this to be very powerful. This was coming from someone who had removed themselves from society, persevered through struggles, and came out victorious. This ideal that the trail fixes you or makes you better, this was very interesting to hear from an actual through hiker just as he was finishing his journey. It was very powerful to see someone who could tell that this journey had changed them in such a positive way. I was very impressed by this movie and very glad Dr Redick showed it to us.