Steven Spielberg's Use Of Sound In Jaws

On September 5th, 1975 “Jaws” by Steven Spielberg turned into the fastest grossing film in the history of the motion picture industry. According to Variety, “Jaw” proceeded to surpass the previous record gross of “The Godfather” by Francis Ford Coppola with an extra $38 million (Variety, Sept. 10, 1975). This immense success suggests that “Jaws” express the society’s underlying consciousness, and should be approached critically with a different point of view. By producing fictional structures which involve the audience viewing the shark as an image, the creators of the film capitalized on the emotions attached to the sharks. Rather than being just a series of individually narrative events, the structures constantly express the shark’s image

First, audio effects are artificially enhanced sounds used to artistically emphasize a play. In this case, “Jaws” requires major sound effects in order to display the prowess of the shark. Not only that, but the waves of the ocean and the horrified screams from actors need to be enhanced as well to gain reactions from the audience. Alongside the elements, audiences are unable to visualize the images without a setting. Meaning every objects on stage, including the background, the curtains, the floor would work together to display the mood of the scene as well as expressing the tone of the play. Lastly, the costumes play an important role in any theatrical plays. Costumes illustrate the images, thus, making it relatable to the viewers. Not to mention that costumes also shine a light on another part of a theatrical performance, it tells a story and sets the timeline of the play. For example, if “Jaws” was a Broadway show in 1975, costumes like graphic tees or dress-shirts will not be appropriate for the setting of the play. Together, these three elements will projects the director’s reflection and concept of the play, in this case, a man-eating shark that unseemingly represents the dark spiral of our