Music serving convention : weekly of The Polish Telegraphic Agency and Polish film chronicle in 1945–1955 : two variations for the same theme?

The purpose of this article was to show how audio-visual convention functions in documentary film. I compare two different models to illustrate the key features of a film chronicle as a conventional message. The weekly P.T.A. chronicle (in the pre-war period) and the Polish Film Chronicle (People's Republic of Poland period) are two realizations of a similar pattern. What differs is the different intentions of broadcasters, the persuasive function, and the advanced techniques of production. In addition to the chronological approach, the article compares two channels: the visual and the audio. This method allows to examine the relations and hierarchy of means of expression essential for effective communication. I also attempt to create a catalog of typical conventions of cinematic chronicles: the background music and the narrator's commentary. Paying attention to the role of sound in the construction of communication provides greater awareness of ideological manipulation. Another issue raised in the article is the national specifics of the documentary chronicles style