Through the group conversation, I understood that Pearls Against the Wall was not completely based on a clear linear story. Cindy explained that atmosphere was more important, and that the music and sound needed to follow the emotional direction of the piece. This was important because it changed my role from simply adding sound effects to shaping a wider emotional environment.
The group also mentioned Ophelia and themes connected to a woman’s life, marginalisation and sexual undertones. These references made the ocean sound more meaningful. It was not just a sea atmosphere, but something connected to vulnerability, suspension and emotional weight.
Another useful detail was the idea of pearls slowly falling from above like an hourglass. This gave me a strong sense of time and progression. I began to imagine pearl sounds as repetitive and gradually accumulating, rather than appearing as one isolated effect.
This stage helped me understand that atmosphere can also be a structure. Even if the story is not fully linear, sound can guide the audience through changes in tension, mood and pacing. This became one of the main ideas behind my sound design.
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