Westworld: Intro

Westworld: Intro; a great demonstration of writing a theme that fits the narrative.

It works surprisingly well as an introduction. It’s and minimalistic yet finely tuned so that the grandeur comes through. It begins with a deliberate pace solo piano with complementary sound effects placing a modern twist into it. Note how there’s a singular repeating 7 note theme theme that is always in the foreground with the piano but doubled by strings in the background. Then, the strings evolve into a more voluminous timber with a more traditional orchestration most similar to Gershwin without the brass.

The contrast lie in the the visual complement, the bare bones and muscles in white epitomize modern minimalism. There isn’t much personality or accent to look at but incredible detail and texture. The horse in the first season becomes a bison in the second. A more physical and capable animal unbridled by human influence. Yet, not only is this a man-made bison, but bison in their nature have been hunted and contained to near extinction. Man’s will exerted nonetheless. My favorite part is the piano playing hands pounding out the tune in the musical foreground, which are revealed to be on a self-playing piano. An illusion of agency.

What makes this quite an interesting series is the way it plays with agency. Below is a clip demonstrating how well the writers and Anthony Hopkins set up the script - the element of order and purpose. And the entire rest of the series, the ‘host’ discover their seeming agency at the will of their creator. As it is, the viewer is left guessing whether what extend of agency the ‘host’ actually have. In multiple instances, the non-‘host’ are stripped of their agency (by gun point, manipulation, or own selfish flaws). This is what makes an otherwise preposterous narrative compellingly familiar.

Thanks, Nerdwriter