Human and non-human sound interactions in suburban forests
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Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
School of Arts, Design and Architecture |
Master's thesis
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Author
Date
2022
Department
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Master's Programme in New Media
Language
en
Pages
63
Series
Abstract
Sound is a crucial mode of interaction for all who live on this planet. It dictates how humans perceive each other, other entities and the variety of objects and environmental factors that they come across in their daily lives. Over time, however, the focus of human listening has settled within the soundscapes of human-centric spaces (transport, industrial sounds), and has become less attuned to changes that occur in the soundscapes of other, more rural spaces; such as those of suburban forests. Learning to attune listening to changes in rural spaces, especially changes that take place over extended periods of time, can provide valuable information about the overall health of the space and how it can be maintained in the future; but before learning to detect changes in the space, one must understand the context of the spaces by learning to inhabit it, perform and perceive sound interactions within it. Non-human agents (animals, plants) are not only further indicators of the health of a rural space, but are also great teachers of how to perform and perceive sound interactions within them. Birds for example, can inhabit both rural and human-centric spaces; using the forest as their home and visiting the human spaces for food sources. This ability paired with the density of their population makes their interactions with humans more common. Through analysis of their sound interactions, be it with other birds, with objects, even with tools and primitive technology, humans can begin to devise their own methods of performing and observing sound interactions in rural spaces. Humans can use pre-existing concepts of interaction with birds, such as bird feeders, to facilitate sound interactions between bird and object. By providing birds entry to a human-centric space, humans can analyse the birds’ interactions with the space and objects, and gather information that would influence changes in the space to make it more inhabitable. It is also important to understand how non-human agents interact with human objects within rural spaces. Suburban forests can be subject to human activity and waste - typically small plastics, but it can also take larger forms; such as old furniture, appliances, even musical instruments. The environmental factors of the space will eventually overcome these objects, but the inhabitants must still cope with an abnormal object in their space. Through learning how non-humans interact with discarded sound objects, we can learn how to construct and repurpose objects that are better suited for non-human interactions, and that don’t disrupt the space. These repurposed objects can be used as points for humans and non-humans to perform sound interactions. By emphasising the value of the space’s unique sonic properties, closer attention can be paid to how changes in sound can be attributed to physical changes in the space and how these changes affect the inhabitability of the space.Description
Supervisor
Ikonen, AnttiThesis advisor
Tiekso, TanjaKeywords
forest, acoustic ecology, non-human agents, found objects, sound art, birds
Other note
Media files notes:
Figure 10 - House Sparrow and others. {video}
Figure 12 - Great Tit. {video}
Figure 14 - Eurasian Blue Tit. {video]
Figure 15 - Woodpecker. {video}
Figures - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 {video}
Figures - 27, 28, 29, 31, 33 {video}
Description:
Figures as referred to in thesis text.
Time codes are included in the names of each figure from 21 - 26 and 27 - 33.
Media rights: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0
