Narration Task
In week two we took on a short narration task in which we explored the building with the intention of finding somewhere then commenting on a sense of place, exploring its sonic environment and noting our relationships with it. I ended up joining a follow student which led us to record a conversation we had at the very top of the tower block, this conversation was not an analysis or reflection of that space over its sonority but a genuine discussion over regular life related nuances. Nice in a way but missing the point of the task. The top of the tower block is however strangely quiet, up away from the heart of Elephant and Castle. This I suppose once exaggerated removes all of the feeling of place, flaying away the city sounds the higher up you go and leaving nothing tangible enough to make out where you are without looking out the window. This task although failed by us definitely created an enjoyable thought experiment especially once introduced to the narrations form other class members. My notable favourite was Simons’ walk to the shops and back in which he provided a raw account of the un-personable experience of talking to yourself through crowds of fellow students and the general public. He notes the loud unwelcome sounds of construction nearby, transport vehicles and the chatter of other people. Simon also explored his sense of self and place by audibly describing the reactions he was getting as he moved through the space, as his narration was unfiltered it came out very powerful but also with great sense of humour and shows his personality well as preserving a sense of normality and not over dramatising the task.
Thinking Sounds by Marcel Cobussen
This blog explores the difference in meaning of both sound studies and sonic studies. It starts by analysing Shafer’s influence on the term and how he argues in high favour of an equality of acoustic design within fields such as urban development and architecture. This here is an important aspect of the sonic world that is often overlooked, when thought about it brings to light the acoustic ecology of life and sound and how unwanted noise is often overpowering in the world. Cobussen then explains the definition of sound studies by detailing how multidisciplinary the field can be from philosophy to architecture and medical studies and shows us that sound studies are about the study of the material role of sound in this world. He then contrasts this with a definition of sonic studies which focuses on the production and consumption of sound and with it how it guides human behaviour. Cobussen mentions how this idea of sonic studies is tied to exploring decolonisation and how western identities historically have prioritised the visual over listening.
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