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2. Re: New Soundscapes & realism

Subject: 2. Re: New Soundscapes & realism
From: "hartogj" hartogj
Date: Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:48 pm ((PST))
Hi Danny

You wrote:
One thing that carries over from the other disciplines and needs to be of c=
oncern is media "elitism".
> Are the people who are so concerned with the "purity" of a thing trying t=
o elevate their vision of it
> to a point of unobtanium for others?  Purity cost money. Not unlike the q=
uality of equipment used.

I do not think that is the case here. I think this discussion is about perc=
eived definitions of a subject rather than anyone trying to pressure anyone=
 down.

If nature recordists had some economic advantage over other recordists in o=
ther fields of recording then sure, one could try to push the "elitism" poi=
nt - but really we don't have any such advantages. Your cultural recordings=
 could be more valuable than my nature recordings, however by trying to con=
fuse definitions of two genres we risk cheapening both.

Consider the subsets of nature recording. If you lived in an area where bir=
ds no longer exist, would you then try to push for the inclusion of your ma=
mmal recordings under the subset of bird recordings - just because you cons=
ider those who have access to actual birds to be elitists?


John Hartog
rockscallop.org








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> Danny
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> On Jan 13, 2012, at 7:45 AM, Robin wrote:
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> > This is indeed a most excellent discussion!
> >
> > John Hartog wrote:
> >
> > > I believe the natural rhythms and voices in a
> > > recording, aside from anthropogenic, can promote
> > > consciousnesses in appreciation for natural
> > > ecosystems better than a recording with
> > > anthropogenic sounds included.
> >
> > I am not sure even that is true. An awareness of how the biotic and abi=
otic, human-centred and non-human-centred sounds interact might instead be =
more informative. I have engaged in this issue in some of my compositions. =
And I believe the recording that kick-started this discussion could be cons=
idered an example of this in practice.
> >
> > I have issues on a philosophical basis with drawing lines in the sand, =
since I for one believe the wind should always blow. However, in case any s=
hould read me as being too confrontational, I will make it clear that I do =
not have any objection to the conservationist project *in practice*, since =
it is a necessary corrective to the dominant hegemony of "growth" and globa=
lisation.
> >
> > freitojos wrote:
> >
> > > For 2000 years all the species where respected
> > > and protected even when hunted and the man was
> > > sharing is production with the other species.
> >
> > I would be very careful ascribing Utopian attributes to tribal and othe=
r previous (so-called "indigenous") cultures. In point of fact, these were =
responsible for some of the largest species extinctions on the planet. And =
the cultures often lived in a constant state of hostility and warfare with =
both each other and their environments. The Western European valorisation o=
f such societies is part of the myth of Nature, Eden, Paradise, etc. There =
was no pure, unspoilt state from which we came.
> >
> > Eric Leonardson wrote:
> >
> > > I seem to recall Steven Feld told us, in 1993, a
> > > nature environments record label would have
> > > released his field recordings from the rain
> > > forests of Papua New Giunea, only if it hadn't
> > > been "ruined" by the sounds of the indigenous
> > > Bosavi people.
> >
> > An interesting test case! For if we wish to exclude all sounds made by =
Homo sapiens from "nature recordings", the label was correct in their criti=
cism. If, however, we wish to include the Bosavi inside the perimeter of "n=
ature", then we engage in racism pure and simple, since we are applying dif=
ferent criteria of acceptance to their culture and ours.
> >
> > The "third way" would be for us to establish aesthetic criteria that co=
uld be applied regardless of the source of the sound. I wonder if any natur=
e recording labels, soundscape artists, and so on have attempted this?
> >
> > Dug Winningham wrote:
> >
> > > i am sure most of us have seen/heard this attenborough clip, i am cur=
ious what category this bird's anthropogenic vocal recording would fall int=
o?
> > >
> > > http://www.metacafe.com/watch/520900/amazing_lyre_bird_mimics_everyth=
ing/
> >
> > Dug, that bird makes lyres of us all.
> >
> > -- robinparmar.com
> >
> >
>
> Danny McCarty
> Monolith Media, Inc.
> 4183 Summit View
> Hood River, Or 97031
>
> 415-331-7628
> 541-399-0089 Cell
>
> http://www.monolithmedia.net/
>
> http://www.danielmccarty.com/
>
> http://about.me/yodmc
>
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