R2 Response

The first video "Listen" was all about soundscapes and how the sound has the same power to tell a story as images do. The main guy in the video is talking about the power of soundscapes, while also being filmed with and commenting on the vibrant soundscape behind him. He points out how when we actually listen to things, it enriches our live and our experiences. I like that spent the last couple of minutes not saying anything, just holding up a sign that said "Listen". The writing "Acoustic Ecology" also emphasizes the importance of listening. Last semester in Shannon's experimental production class, we had to do a lot of listening exercises and tell a story only using sound. I like that this article talks about the wisdom that the earth and the landscape has to share with us when we quiet down and take the time to listen to the world around us. I realized after reading this how much more I need to notice the little things in life, as cliche as that sounds. The video about Justin Boyd was fascinating. His sensitivity to sound and how he has implemented his passion for sound in such a cool way. Each object's sound that he works with has a personal story and really pulls you in. Like the other medias assigned for this week, the interview with R. Murray Schafer, the "father of acoustic ecology" enhanced my appreciation and awareness of sound. Because we are bombarded with so much, we often tune things out, sometimes the best things like wind through leaves or birds singing. The calming, quiet parts of life that hold wisdom and truth within them. We have so many more sounds that did not used to exist before and as a defensive mechanism, we often block entire sounds out, forgetting to let in the best parts that enrich our lives. Moving forward, I am definitely going to be more aware of the sounds around me, especially in the natural world.