In this introductory program we will work closely with sound, both as an emotionally resonant field of perception shaped by culture and history, and as a salient aspect of our physical world. How does sound work? How have human beings understood and used sound in ways that have changed over time?
Starting with the evolution of communication and human language, we will trace a history of sound and story, studying how oral cultures and the soundscapes of everyday life have changed over time. Playing with the physical properties of sound, we will explore frequency, tone, timbre and other audio features. We will consider the physical workings of various technologies that produce, record, and translate sound, and explore how these technologies enabled new kinds of listening, storytelling, and imagination. We will also study the place of music, story, and noise within political movements, with an emphasis on the rise of podcasting in contemporary cultures. Our readings will span anthropology, science and technology studies, and the science of sound.
In the multimedia lab, students will learn the fundamentals of audio editing using Adobe Audition and will produce several audio projects, including a podcast based on an original in-depth life history interview. We will spend much of our in-class time experimenting with sound recording, listening closely, developing interviewing skills, recording audio, and doing a range of creative work.
Through hands-on investigations in science lab, students will explore the physical basis of sound. Students will also learn basic circuit building skills to create oscillators, amplifiers, filters, and other analog components.
As part of our studies, there will be a required two-night field trip to Seattle to record soundscapes and complete an event-based ethnography and collaborative audio podcast project.
Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:
4 - Anthropology of Sound
4 - Technology Studies
2 - Life History Interviewing
2 - Audio Field Recording and Editing
4 - Physics of Sound
Registration
Academic Details
The program will prepare students for continued studies and careers in media, audio recording, anthropology, the humanities, and the physical sciences.
$270 fee covers a 2 night field trip to Seattle ($220) and a required media fee ($50)