Not since John Cage
didn’t play his piano has sound been so highly regarded as an art form all its own (or so worthy of
scientific attention). As the creation and manipulation of sound gradually gains footing as an accepted craft, artists, musicians and writers alike are exploring new ways to connect with audiences at ear level.
NPR at MOCA: Artist-run radio collective
Neighborhood Public Radio recently teamed up with the
Museum of Contemporary Art, LA for a
three-part series of “interactive sound projects.” Part One saw NPR hijacking the airwaves around the museum to create
radio sound out of visitor interviews, performances, and even real-time conversations. In Part Two, sounds emerging from museumgoers’ cars were layered and looped to compose a
symphony. The
final installment will feature guitar-made drone sounds, meant to create a shifting “fuzz-tone” that will vary depending on a visitor’s location. The series has struck a chord with audiences despite its experimental nature, using crowdsourcing as a point of entry to the unconventional concept of hearing art.
The Drum: Touting its tagline “Literature Out Loud,” this nonprofit lit-mag publishes short stories, essays and novel excerpts exclusively in audio form. In lieu of
more drastic applications of tech to narrative,
The Drum features traditional storytelling, albeit via online streaming and mp3 downloads. In providing well-voiced, well-paced stories, it actually gives a nod to the
slow reading movement. A subscription (plus archive access) costs $25 a year, but newly published pieces are available for free. As a helpful touch, stories are tagged by length, so multitaskers can choose according to their schedule: a “small” story is about the length of a dog-walk, while a “large” story better suits a morning commute.
