Interrogating social hierarchy in the sonic environment of Delhi

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Volume Title

School of Arts, Design and Architecture | Master's thesis
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Date

2024

Department

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Taiteen ja median maisteriohjelma

Language

en

Pages

66 + 2

Series

Abstract

The study employs listening as a methodological tool for sociological inquiry, exploring how auditory experiences can reveal and reflect social structures. The research concentrates on two specific areas: the JJ Colony in Wazirpur and Satyawati Colony in Ashok Vihar. The methodological approach combines immersive engagement and critical ethnography to gather and analyze data. The primary objective of this investigation is to elucidate how sociological structures permeate sensory engagements, particularly in the realm of sound. Furthermore, it aims to demonstrate how the act of listening can be utilised as an analytical framework to evaluate power relations in context-specific urban environments. This approach extends beyond human actors to include non-human elements, acknowledging the complex interplay of various factors in shaping the sonic ecology of urban spaces. This study's approach resonates with contemporary anthropological perspectives on a sound, which emphasise the role of sound in producing social relations and shaping urban experiences. By examining the sonic landscapes of specific Delhi neighbourhoods, the research aims to uncover how sound operates as both a reflection and a producer of social and power dynamics in the urban context.

Description

Supervisor

Ikonen, Antti

Thesis advisor

Saarikivi, Taina

Keywords

soundscape, sound, society, power, hierarchy, ethnography

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