Studying at York
Future Foley - TFT00064I
- Department: Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: I
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
Module summary
Almost 100 years after Jack Foley first walked on the spot with a cloth in his back pocket, the technique that still bears his name has travelled beyond narrative cinema to support interactivity and storytelling across screen media. Foley technique, and how its sounds weld to moving images, provides weight and impact for what we see onscreen, drawing us into the experience and engaging us emotionally. In a world of increasingly accessible digital tools for sound creation, Foley remains stubbornly tied to everyday materials, requiring artists to develop the knowledge that will allow them to reach for just the right pair of shoes or piece of cloth to bring a character’s motion to life. Foley’s effectiveness shows us that our everyday experiences of sound are also potentially charged with emotion, drama and illusion. This module critically explores the technique of Foley to ask what its future might be in the face of new digital tools for sound design, and how its knowledge might develop new connections between body, sound and screen in the coming century.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2024-25 |
Module aims
- To develop an understanding of Foley technique and workflow
- To critically explore Foley as a creative soundmaking practice that expands screen experiences with sensation and dramatic feel
- To provide a structure for exploring the origins of Foley, and how it might develop further in this century within the context of new digital tools and screen-based media
Module learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the key techniques of Foley across media, including sound design with objects and materials, performance, recording and editing
- Engage critically with the role of sound in our screen experiences
- Understand how to implement theories of sonic experience in practical sound production work
- Demonstrate an understanding of the historical origins of Foley and how it has developed to the present day
- Appreciate how creative soundmaking methods might change as technologies develop
- Be confident in exploring and articulating the possibilities of new digital tools or media contexts for Foley
- Support creative and technical output with appropriate documentation and critical reflection
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
You will receive written feedback in line with standard University turnaround times.
Indicative reading
- Augoyard, J.F. and Torgue, H. eds., 2006. Sonic experience: a guide to everyday sounds. McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP.
- Ament, V.T., 2014. The Foley grail: The art of performing sound for film, games, and animation. Routledge.
- Chion, M., 2019. Audio-vision: sound on screen. Columbia University Press.
- Collins, K., 2013. Playing with sound: a theory of interacting with sound and music in video games. MIT press.
- Pauletto, S., 2022. Foley performance and sonic implicit interactions. The Body in Sound, Music and Performance: Studies in Audio and Sonic Arts (pp. 265-278). Focal Press.
- Spatz, B., 2015. What a body can do. Routledge.
- Wright, B., 2014. Footsteps with character: the art and craft of Foley. Screen, 55(2), pp.204-220.