My question was actually rhetorical. Doesn't hurt to answer. I hate it when people avoid questions so I try not to do the same. 8)
The fact of the matter is, there is no right or wrong answer. Gotta love these moments...Not. >.> There is such thing as 'music for the times'. That's just a product of your social upbringing. The reason dystopian futures and illegal sex are all the rage in sci-fi? Because we live in a very capitalist, very free market world. Music, like high concept ideas, is the same. Because we think of string instruments as analogue sound, and because digitalization is encroaching into our private spheres, it would seem likely, perhaps to a few pioneers of science fiction media, that techno music would be fitting in such a setting. However, again, it's only the idea of social conditioning and it does not make anything else less valid.
In fact, a juxtaposition of ideas can, for want of a better term, be very valid. What does Martin O'Donnell want to express taking on contemporary cIassical music in a military science fiction setting? He didn't do just because it sounded good; please, don't insult a musician's intelligence. There's a reason behind it, and while it may not be aesthetically pleasing to some, there's meaning behind it. But what good is the reasoning if the average non-Halo fan (Personally, I'm far more of a Half-Life fan :D) cannot understand it? Could a musician not be put at fault if they're unable to bring out the themes one intended to or is it just that as long as one other person in the world understands it without being explained everything by the composer themself, it's alright? Each time and setting has it's own, for a lack of a better term, 'mainstream expectation', both within the player base and the development team. Staying out of the stream is trying to be different, and if you're going to be different, you'd better do a damn good job. Otherwise it'll be a waste and would negatively affect everything else that others worked hard on and in turn, negatively affect the average player's experience, namely mine.
Mandatory lol example: Techno in a Roman gladiator fighting game. I don't think anyone in the world would even dare to pull that off. :lol: The development team behind something like that would probably murder the composer for that.
I'll repeat that being different is great and all, but not when it could affect someone else's work. Composing stand-alone music and composing for a game or movie are two totally different things for that reason.
You say you thought 'museum' (wtf?!) A place that we'd see a sword in, even in the future.:lol: Looking back at my response, wow does 'museum' sound out of place. and 'medieval times'. Not only does it not sound anything like most medieval music in form or structure, it's actually very modern. The most 'medieval' Halo ever got was that the choir sounded rather Gregorian, but as we all know, Halo has very religious connotations in its universe. Ah, so we can assume there's a reason for the chants ;). But what ideas do we have about 'medieval'? A dark, harsh period of struggle that has since been greatly romanticized? Crusades? Ha! We're getting there! Valor and knighthood! Honestly though, it doesn't sound anything medival so I'll stop there. It was just an example of music with the times, specifically the era in which orchestra instruments became prominent in society (I think 'renaissance' was the word I was looking for? Hey! You're the music lover around here! :P), not the styIe in which they're used and what images the music portrays. Doesn't hurt to be thorough though, and thorough you are. Perhaps, too thorough to respond to without cop-outs...>.>
Mass Effect uses techno because it's premise (not the actual plot) is very much the discovery of technology: humans making contact with aliens for the very first time, how technology causes tension between races, which all inadvertently reflect the plot in the game.
Sorry if my reply sounds overkill but I think my love for music is unrivalled here. 9001% agreed. *bows down to Liquid* If it weren't for film, musicology (and dance) would consume my life :D
FrozenLiquid
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