Sound is integral to the world; even in a quiet space there is very rarely the complete absence of sound. Often sound is related back to the daily activities of people, cars roaring down the streets or the bustling noise of the voices of a crowd. Sound is also commonly found to be a pleasant addition to daily life through music on the radio or through the sounds of animals and nature. However, the sound in certain locations can also offer a glimpse into the context of the space and illustrate the deeper issues taking place. Protests in Japan, loudspeakers in Nigeria and the slums of India all offer this glimpse; by listening to their soundscapes, one can discover something about the different locations and how these sounds have different meanings
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This situation presents different problems depending on the listener. For instance, those in agreement with the religious message being imparted are going about their day and are unable to give the message their full attention. Larkin discusses how this is problematic specifically for Muslims as they are supposed to be attentive to these religious messages. However for those who do not belong to the religion that is being broadcast, it can be seen instead as an attack as the religious message is being broadcast for all to hear (2014:1003). To combat these problems, inattention is widely utilized throughout the city. The article discusses how the technique of purposeful inattention is used when one does not want to hear the message being imparted. Furthermore, Larkin emphasizes that “Inattention is not not attending. It is attending enough to know one does not have to attend” (p. 1008). Therefore, depending on what is being broadcast and who the listener is, a conscious decision for inattention may be …show more content…
The setting for this piece is Japan after a tsunami triggered a nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi which caused the eruption of protests. These large scale protests included the use of loudspeakers, drums and chanting (Novak 2013:0:32). Along with these public protests, musical performances were also used for the anti-nuclear protests. Another popular method of protest involves a loudspeaker mounted to a moving car and protesters following along singing and chanting. The podcast also discusses a performance in which the song, I’ll Look Up as I Walk plays (Novak 2013:6:49). This song is connected to “Japanese political resistance,” making it relevant to play in this context. These sounds of protest are interesting because to somebody listening without any context, it almost sounds more like a celebration or just the enjoyment of music; it isn’t until the context is known that the meanings behind the sounds become apparent. Thus, once again, the sounds in this setting hold different meanings depending on the identity of the
This situation presents different problems depending on the listener. For instance, those in agreement with the religious message being imparted are going about their day and are unable to give the message their full attention. Larkin discusses how this is problematic specifically for Muslims as they are supposed to be attentive to these religious messages. However for those who do not belong to the religion that is being broadcast, it can be seen instead as an attack as the religious message is being broadcast for all to hear (2014:1003). To combat these problems, inattention is widely utilized throughout the city. The article discusses how the technique of purposeful inattention is used when one does not want to hear the message being imparted. Furthermore, Larkin emphasizes that “Inattention is not not attending. It is attending enough to know one does not have to attend” (p. 1008). Therefore, depending on what is being broadcast and who the listener is, a conscious decision for inattention may be …show more content…
The setting for this piece is Japan after a tsunami triggered a nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi which caused the eruption of protests. These large scale protests included the use of loudspeakers, drums and chanting (Novak 2013:0:32). Along with these public protests, musical performances were also used for the anti-nuclear protests. Another popular method of protest involves a loudspeaker mounted to a moving car and protesters following along singing and chanting. The podcast also discusses a performance in which the song, I’ll Look Up as I Walk plays (Novak 2013:6:49). This song is connected to “Japanese political resistance,” making it relevant to play in this context. These sounds of protest are interesting because to somebody listening without any context, it almost sounds more like a celebration or just the enjoyment of music; it isn’t until the context is known that the meanings behind the sounds become apparent. Thus, once again, the sounds in this setting hold different meanings depending on the identity of the