Sound analysis

The Dark Knight

There is a variety of diegetic and non diegetic sound in this movie clip of The Dark Knight by Christopher Nolan. As the antagonist, the Joker, falls out the overturned truck, the audience hears a variety of sounds from him that are of him struggling which show how he is having difficulty getting back on his feet. As he does, he accidentally fires from his gun. The gun shots are also diegetic and are present later on in the scene as well. As the Joker starts to walk forward, the dialogue that is present is very quiet and to himself. The actor uses a tone which makes him sound very playful and threatening, immediately showing to the audience his sinister and sadistic personality. His dialogue is actually increasing in both volume and aggression as he continues to say "Hit me" waiting for the Batman to hit him with his motorcycle, and as the Batman gets closer and closer, the Joker's dialogue gets louder and louder.

The non diegetic sound is the music in the background which is also acting as a crescendo of strings which creates a build up of tension. The music keeps getting louder and louder in the background as the Joker is asking to be hit, but falls to silence when the Batman crashes. However, the music starts to build up once again as the Joker walks to the Batman to slightly imitate his slow walk towards the protagonist which again amplifies the Joker's sinister motives.

There are also other diegetic sounds such as the electric zap from the Batman's mask and the masked thug's squirming as he is zapped. This causes a reaction from the Joker who begins to kick the man and make gibberish sounds before spitting on the fallen man, which greatly encourage the audience that the Joker is in fact quite literally a maniac or a lunatic. Finally, other diegetic sounds are the cocking of James Gordon's shotgun which create an idea of the Joker's inevitable capture.

The music changes when we see the conclusion that the Joker is taken down by James Gordon the police commissioner. The music changes to a heroic swell to symbolise the idea that James Gordon has saved the day by taking down the antagonist.