Acoustemology: Conjoins acoustics and epistemology to theorise sound as a way of knowing. Inquiring into what is knowable, and how it becomes known. 

Assessment re-cap: 

Element 1

1. A literature review: 2-3 Page summary of relevant literature with brief synopsis and review. 2,300-2,500 Essay. 

Element 2

1. Creative Sound Piece (3-5mins) 

CHOOSE ANYTHING YOU FEEL INTERESTING

In my case; Party culture, aural histories, rituals, folklore, Archeacoustics 

What does it mean to say sensory perception is conditioned by culture? 

How does a European hierarchy of senses impact our examination of Western and non-Western cultures? 

What is the role of technologies of communication in considering the senses? 

How do we as sound artists and sound scholars deal with ocular centrism?  

-Listening is active and is conscious. 

-Hearing is the physiological experience of the sound waves, the natural.  

Sonic Bodies by Julian Henriques  (2011) BRIEF

• Stems from research whilst living in Kingston, Jamaica 1996-2001 
• Backgrounds in documentary filmmaking and now makes fiction. 

Sonic Bodies is journey into sound. 

‘Thinking through sounding brings to the fore the value of auditor propagation as a mechanical process, as a model of a way understanding that avoids being entirely bound up with language, notation and representation.’ 

Kiro makes an interesting point-he notes that Henriques points can be paradoxical for he is writing an academic text while dissecting the negative aspects of occulacentrism.   

MECHANICAL-PRACTCAL-THEORETICAL 

MEDIUM-INSTRUMENT-TECHNIQUE 

Techne-Know how 

Epistme-To Know, formal analytical or scientific knowledge 

Phronesis-Practical wisdom 

Sounding always requires kinetic movement, even when stationary and listening to music/sound at home the vibrations of the sound waves move. 

ACOUSTEMOLOGY

• Steven Feld spent more than 25 years with the Bosavi in Papua New Guinea. 
• Coined Acoustemolgy in the 1992 to theorize sound and listening as a way of knowing. 
• Neologism combines ‘acoustics’ with ‘epistemology’ (Theory of Knowledge)  

Acoustemology: 

Conjoins acoustics and epistemology to theorise sound as a way of knowing. Inquiring into what is knowable, and how it becomes known.

I.e I know the footsteps of my family members without having to see them. 

Feld argues that western knowledge of the senses is limited. He is linking the physical with experience and knowledge. 

Relational Ontology: Relational ontology is the philosophical position that what distinguishes subject from subject, subject from object, or object from object is mutual relation rather than substance.

LISTEN: Voices of the Rainforest LP 

https://www.voicesoftherainforest.org

Track: Making Sago-sounds ceremonial, the ritual of sago-making, woman beat sago starch, kids chatter and bird calls are heard in the distance. The second song is almost in response to the bird song, the bird is leading the music.  SECOND THAT THOUGHT, the primary bird song was made by one of the women!

These are not objective recordings but are contracted with the intention of situating the listener in the sonic environment. 

He had no idea that these songs were sung from the birds point of view. THINK Human separation of Man and Beast—Birds to the Bosavi people may be seen as spirits—magical—god like. 

ARCHAECOUSTICS 

BOOK 

Stone Age Soundtracks 

GROUP TASK 

Acoustic Architecture of Shopping Centres 

Sources- 

https://spigogroup.com/en/acoustic-panels-for-supermarkets-malls-and-shopping-centres/

The Article: Good acoustic conditioning ensures that consultations and conversations between salespeople and customers are perfectly clear and understandable, preventing errors and misunderstandings. In addition, the reverberation control offered by the use of acoustic panels in shops, malls and supermarkets makes it possible to take advantage of the sound channel to inform customers about offers and promotions through loudspeakers without reducing the acoustic comfort of those who are shopping.  

Spigogroup develops and produces acoustical conditioning solutions and wood acoustic solutions with a high technical and aesthetic level. Furthermore we offer a wide range of multifunctional products such as technical doors and Phenolic carpentry.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339135381_Investigation_of_the_Acoustical_Environment_in_A_Shopping_Mall_and_Its_Correlation_to_the_Acoustic_Comfort_of_the_Workers

TEXT: Investigation of the Acoustical Environment in A Shopping Mall and Its Correlation to the Acoustic Comfort of the Workers 

References from above text 

-Orchestrating an indoor city: Ambient noise inside a mega-mall—J.Hopkins 

-Music in an Atrium of a Shopping Center—Gino Lannace, Carmine Lanniello, Elvira Lanniello