What is a visual/audio resource that movies keep using even though it doesn't make sense today?

Submitted by [deleted] t3_z66377 in movies

For example, there is this show called Archive 81 about a guy that gets hired to digitalize a long collection of 90s video tapes. They're physical tapes and he has to record them into computer files.

MILD SPOILERS: he starts experiencing strange events including several computers and flat TV screens showing static. You know, like in Poltergeist or The Ring. Problem is, these are 2021 computers and TVs. And he's not playing the tapes at that moment, but still there's "static" or "white noise" as they call it around here.

I guess that's part of the supernatural stuff? Something tells me the screenwriter just wanted to use that visual resource because previous horror films present it as "creepy" or "something is going wrong", and the writer just went "Screw it, I'm using static wether it makes sense or not".

Not that I'm criticizing that, I'm fine with the visuals. Just that I found it curious, but I'm not hating.

What are other examples of "That shouldn't work like that cause the technology now is different, but we still do it because we emulate previous movies"?

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our2howdy t1_ixzmxby wrote

That's an interesting point, I'm in my 40s and didn't even think that today's tech wouldn't produce static. Is it because he has to use a vhs unit and they still produce static when not generating signal? I haven't used a vhs player in so long now.

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[deleted] OP t1_ixzpcjj wrote

You mean in the show? The computers and TVs are all digital and show static even though the guy is not playing the tapes on any device at all.

I think it's just because it looks "odd", like a bad omen. Previous works depict white noise as a sign of an evil coming, so the screenwriter probably just wanted to recreate that feeling.

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corpus-luteum t1_iy6hovf wrote

I'm not sure you've answered the question.

The TVs are digital, but the VCR is analogue. Therefore the outputted signal is analogue. As I remember, when you ejected your cassette the screen turned to white snow on an anologue TV, but I've no reason to suppose it would be different on a digital. Particularly if the connections are analoogue.

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nlmfan t1_iy2t9da wrote

That squeaky sound when they fast forward or rewind video

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corpus-luteum t1_iy6j0cr wrote

You think it should be replaced with the sound of clicking on the time bar?

Oh, that would be dramatic.

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WinterWindWhip t1_ixzyy7y wrote

On my computer when I switch the display layout sometimes I get a few seconds of white noise on one screen.

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SimoneToastCrunch t1_ixzoguy wrote

Microphone feedback any time someone is awkwardly addressing a crowd.

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[deleted] OP t1_ixzq9jw wrote

That's a good one. I've heard it so many times I wouldn't even realize modern microphones don't work like that.

It's somewhat similar to the "scratch noise" when the screen freezes. Young people have usually never used a disc player so that sound doesn't actually mean anything for them.

Or modern cartoons using the "1930s cashing machine" sound effect when someone sees money. Again, people watching the originals in the 30s knew what that sound was but nowadays most people don't really associate that with anything they experience outside the show.

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PM_ur_Rump t1_ixztz9h wrote

>I wouldn't even realize modern microphones don't work like that.

They...do.

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nur5e t1_ixzyn4q wrote

I don’t get why he thinks people are stupid enough to believe that lie. He must work in Hollywood. They hate us so much and think we are all stupid.

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orangemaroon25 t1_iy0itmr wrote

Microphone feedback is totally still a thing.

Everyone knows what the cash register sound is.

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corpus-luteum t1_iy6iv70 wrote

Those sounds have become tools of artistic symbolism, they're as important as Hieroglyphics

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