Motion as the Connection Between Audio and Visuals

While it is often claimed that any connection between visual art and music is strictly subjective, this paper attempts to prove that motion can be used to connect the two domains in a manner that, though not objective in the true sense of the word, will nevertheless be perceived in a similar fashion by multiple people. The paper begins with a brief history of attempts to link audio and visuals, followed by a discussion of Michel Chion’s notion of synchresis in film, upon which the aforementioned claim is based. Next is an examination of motion in both audio and moving images, and a preliminary look at the kind of mappings which may be possible. As this is all done with a view to the design of new musical, or audiovisual, instruments, the paper finishes with a brief discussion of an instrument being designed based on this idea that motion can act as a connecting force.