Michael Greenberg
TAP: Sound and Society
3 October 2015
Soundtrack 2 My Life
Everything we know is founded upon the human body’s ability to process sensory information. Of these senses, hearing is one of the most fundamental and important to our accumulation of knowledge and our understanding of the world. Sound is vital to sharing information, interacting with other people, creating art, regulating schedules, and countless other aspects of life. The ten sounds that capture but a fragment of my life are a glimpse into such necessities with which sound privileges the human race. These recordings display how sound acts as a regulating factor in my life, as well as cultural, and social aspects.
Similarly to how the body follows biological rhythms such as the circadian cycle, I follow the rhythms of sound. Every morning I wake up to the song Pink Matter by Frank Ocean. The first five to ten seconds of the song draw me gently from my slumber, and hurtle me into the next monotonous aspects of my morning routine. Relieving myself, showering and brushing my teeth soon follow suit. The sounds of my mornings are interesting because they are paired with physical stimulus, not just hearing. My alarm vibrates while it rings, the water in the shower plops against my body, and the bristles noisily polish my teeth. Jonathan Sterne explains, “Sound is a product of perception, not a thing ‘out there’ – the only thing ‘out there’ is vibration which the body organizes and stratifies into what we call sound” (Sterne, p. 834). Sound as we know it exists because our brains are able to translate those vibrations into intelligible noises. Each aspect of my morning routine utilizes this two-fold, not just in the normal process of turning vibration into conscious thoughts, but also because each vibration affects me physically, amplifying the auditory experience.
The sound of coffee gurgling through the brewer is enough to wake me up just a little bit more. Subtle as it is, the sound of note taking in my textbook and turning pages represent the highlight of the next sound, the deep, peaceful quiet of the Billings Round Room. Often, silence can be deafening. As Schafer notes, “myriads of books [are] written in silent rooms and read in silent libraries” (p. 35). The acquisition of knowledge is often done in silence, which I have personally experienced. Such silence is especially beneficial to learning and thought. The reverberations in my life from this silent learning is metaphorically loud, rather than literally noise generating.
The droning of footsteps, the chattering of students, and the jingling of keys encompass the sounds of walking back to the dorm after class. The jolting sound of the next recording (which Schwartz would most likely define as noise) is my skateboard against the pavement. Noise is a sub category of sound, but is has a highly fluid definition. I would strive to define it as irritating stimuli as perceived by the listener, such that all sounds aren’t universally considered noise. Socrates, according to Schwartz, delighted in the buzzing of cicadas, whereas most people find their clamor corrosive. (Schwartz, p. 19). While the harsh sound of hard rubber on concrete may be a nuisance to others, the sound elicits feelings of happiness and freedom for me.
Metal on ceramic and the voices of friends define lunch for many students at UVM, and is a vital recording to include. Music defines much of the sound here, and a little soul in my dorm is uplifting and helps vitalize my energy to prepare me for each night’s workload. A quick Netflix break to watch The League is all too common during my days. The echoing of rubber ricocheting off of wooden walls and heavy footsteps comprise the quick paced game of squash. Friends and quiet music ease the stress of college life at the end of most nights.
Creating this podcast forces me to actively listen to my surroundings and consider the modes in which I interact with sound. Many sounds that fill my environment go completely overlooked, especially the impact they have on my life. Such minute sounds such as highlighter on paper represent so much more, but are routinely ignored. Other sounds, chiefly music, have a heavier burden of influence on what defines me as an individual, my culture, my experience socially, and my interaction with my surroundings. Being forced to observe the auditory stimulus around you helps generate a better understanding of yourself, acquisition of knowledge, and the perceptions of sound.
Works Cited
channel ORANGE. Perf. Frank Ocean. CD.
Dark Side of the Moon. Perf. David Gilmour, Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard
Wright, and Nick Mason. LP.
“Ebdbbnb.” In The League. The Fox Broadcasting Company. November 12, 2014.
Schafer, Murray. “Open Ears.” Journal of Acoustic Ecology 4.2 (2003): 25-38.
Print.
Schwartz, Hillel. Making Noise: From Babel to the Big Bang & Beyond, Brooklyn, NY: Zone Books;, 2011
Stern, J. “The mp3 as a Cultural Artifact.” New Media and Society, 2006, 825-42.
The Best of. Perf. Mavis Staples. 1986. CD
I love how you highlight the fact that your interactions with your sounds were physical as well as hearing. I think with this project it was hard to not separate the sounds we recorded from their experience in every day life, you did a good job of acknowledging the experience of these sounds as they are in their raw form, not just the way the listener hears them. Good job! I really enjoyed listening to your podcast and reading your essay!
After reading your essay and listening to your podcast, I definitely have a different perspective of some sounds that one might consider a nuisance. One of the points that stuck with me was when you said “While the harsh sound of hard rubber on concrete may be a nuisance to others, the sound elicits feelings of happiness and freedom for me.” I feel like this was one of the main points that have been really driven home during class. It is all about perspective and how we personally interpret sound; not everyone will have the same experience. Your podcast was definitely one of the longer ones in our class, but you can easily justify why you made it as long as you did. I felt as though you brought us through your day and it’s interesting to see how each student’s lives differ from one another. Lastly, I also thought that your podcast was more personal; from relieving yourself in the morning, to the groggy coughing. It illustrates the type of person that you are in terms of you’re not afraid to show what makes you, you. Overall, great job with your essay and podcast! I really thought it was interesting.
I agree with you that creating this playlist made us listen to the sounds in our lives a little more quickly. I think your podcast was great, and your essay supported it very well. It was extremely vivid and descriptive in explaining your daily life. The circadian rhythms within the body is a very interesting thing to explore. I think it was pretty unique. The cough in particular was very relevant for this time of year, since everyone is getting sick. I’m sure it’s pretty relatable at this point. Overall this was a great piece with a lot of new ideas!