Can you see sounds?
Some people can!
Synesthesia is a condition where one sensory pathway directly affects another. The most well-known example may be the ability to see colors and other visuals when hearing sounds.
Norman McLaren had this condition.
He was also one of the most influential filmmakers of the 20th century.
McLaren is best known for his early experimental films, where he produced all images and sounds solely by drawing directly on film with pen. Abstract shapes dance around and divide and multiply in films with titles like Dots and Loops. The patterned pen markings on the strip of the film where the sound waves are recorded are what create the unique sound effects that correlate with the drawn images.
Watch his short film Dots to see this concept come to life!
In order to get a better sense of the process that McLaren used to create this film, watch this video called Pen Point Percussion (1951) to see visualizations of sound waves accompanied by a more in depth explanation to McLaren’s concept and methods.
In 1941, McLaren was hired by the Canadian Film Board, where he worked for the rest of his life. He made films for the Canadian government and had a lot of freedom to be experimental. Looking back, we can only appreciate the eras in history when governments were so willing to fund the arts.
It is important to mention that a lot McLaren’s work was produced in collaboration with Evelyn Lambart, who was also federally employed. Their work together was incredibly diverse. Here is an example of an exceptional set of visuals reacting to a piece by the Oscar Peterson Trio.
Watching McLaren’s films show us how to see sound. They are incredibly cutting edge for his time and pioneered the way for a lot more experimentation with visual media.
If you find this content to be as fun and fascinating as I do, check out this video essay by Catherine Stratton to get a better idea of the depth of McLaren’s portfolio.
There’s always infinite content to explore, let me know what you find!