This section is about relevant information regarding to the acoustic environments and psychological and physical affect on humans.
influences:
1. social behavior
2. navigation
3. aesthetic sense of space
4. spatial configuration enhances aural experience
From the early civilizations, sound was the means of communication- either vocally or with the use of special tools.
Later, in addition to the churchbells, fog sirens, railroad signals were all considered as vital parts that determined a community. These distincive sounds were termed as ‘soundmarks’ that were the auditory counterparts of landmarks.
‘sonic geography controlled the social fabric of the early rural communities’- from 'Spaces speak, are you listening?'
02. ENGINEERED SOUNDS
Why there is music playing in the elevators?
-music played in public places: shops, supermarkets, pubs, restaurants/cafes, hotels, TV programmes and piped down the telephone. It is backround music, but here, transforms into foreground.
‘Research has found that 86% people find muzak annoying whilst at hird of the general public also expressed their dislike of it . When this is put alongside the 36% of the general public who say that they never notice background music.
Muzak corporation started in the 50s in US, producing soundtracks that were played in elevators as ‘unconfortable’ environments.
A 1980s film ‘Decoder’ stars a group of people who are in a war against corporations and Muzak- they produce ‘Antimuzak’ by recording sounds they play in McDonalds restaurants and then replaying them in reverse and in a different tempo.
03. ULTRASOUND/INFRASOUND AND SONIC WARFARE
Human perception of sound is between frequencies 20Hz and 20 000khz. Sounds below are termed ultrasonic, above, infrasonic.
Infrasound is used as means of urban control: ‘mosquito device’ is introduced in UK to break up gangs of teenagers as it emits an irritant buzz. As human threshold of audible high frequencies weakens when getting older, it is to be heard by people under 20s.
Relating to consumerism, specific sounds related to brands, holosonic devices are being developed: audible only when facing the speaker in a specific angle.
In near future, we could be controlled by adaptive ‘artificial acoustic agencies’- tracking movements, manipulating activities, modulating behavior.
To fight sonic manipulation, a personal shield is a music player and headphones, allowing to
create your own environment.
Related video material:
01. PERCEPTION
Focusing on the space perceived by ears, we have a much wider, longer distance of perception compared to the visual. Aswell, the sonic environment is much more complex in physical and phychological nature- from material usage in architecture to the affect on human brain.
Focusing on the space perceived by ears, we have a much wider, longer distance of perception compared to the visual. Aswell, the sonic environment is much more complex in physical and phychological nature- from material usage in architecture to the affect on human brain.
Visual perception can easily be diconnected by closing eyes, aural perception can only be reduced by covering ears.
‘depending on the physical design and the cultural context, aural architecture can stimulate anxiety, tranquillity, socialization, isolation, frustration, fear, boredom, aesthetic pleasure and so on.’ -from 'Spaces speak, are you listening?'influences:
1. social behavior
2. navigation
3. aesthetic sense of space
4. spatial configuration enhances aural experience
From the early civilizations, sound was the means of communication- either vocally or with the use of special tools.
Later, in addition to the churchbells, fog sirens, railroad signals were all considered as vital parts that determined a community. These distincive sounds were termed as ‘soundmarks’ that were the auditory counterparts of landmarks.
‘sonic geography controlled the social fabric of the early rural communities’- from 'Spaces speak, are you listening?'
02. ENGINEERED SOUNDS
Audio architecture and Muzak: adding the artificial acoustic interference to an architectural space, creating a specific atmosphere related to the place. ‘elevator music’ played in 1950s office towers to create a ‘comfortable environment’.
the soundtracks of shopping malls; mcdonalds restaurants etc., all this supporting the consumerism.
Have you ever wondered why there’s always mellow music playing in the backround in shopping malls?Why there is music playing in the elevators?
-this is all engineered, scientific sound that is affecting the mood and feeling of a person using the space.
It is termed as Audio architecture; Muzak; Piped music. -music played in public places: shops, supermarkets, pubs, restaurants/cafes, hotels, TV programmes and piped down the telephone. It is backround music, but here, transforms into foreground.
‘Research has found that 86% people find muzak annoying whilst at hird of the general public also expressed their dislike of it . When this is put alongside the 36% of the general public who say that they never notice background music.
Those who notice, enjoy it and minority finding it annoying.
That is why Muzak corporation has been engineering sounds: to give the spaces an additional dimension with sounds that affect the mood, that make us consume more. Muzak corporation started in the 50s in US, producing soundtracks that were played in elevators as ‘unconfortable’ environments.
A 1980s film ‘Decoder’ stars a group of people who are in a war against corporations and Muzak- they produce ‘Antimuzak’ by recording sounds they play in McDonalds restaurants and then replaying them in reverse and in a different tempo.
03. ULTRASOUND/INFRASOUND AND SONIC WARFARE
Human perception of sound is between frequencies 20Hz and 20 000khz. Sounds below are termed ultrasonic, above, infrasonic.
Low frequency sounds are directly affecting the middle ear and nervous system, causing vertigo, dizziness. ‘frequencies of 7hz, for example, thought to induce moods of fear and anger’ -from 'Sonic Warfare'.
Pathological effects on human body by emitting low-frequencies were experimented since after the first world war and put into practice during the Vietnamese war where audible and inaudible frequencies were played into the jungle to weaken the guerilla fighters and make them surrender. When audible frequencies were played at high volumes, the fighters would become death; inaudible freqencies would affect their nervous system and it is experimented, causing internal spasms as their organs encounter specific resonant frequencies.
Contemporary warfare is using sonic weaponry to fight the pirates- as high volume vibrations hit, they have to cover their ears, leaving their weapons. Of course, they could be equipped with eardrops but if a weapon that emits resonant frequencies to human organs, there is nothing to fight against with. The same tactics is used by police to control riots.Pathological effects on human body by emitting low-frequencies were experimented since after the first world war and put into practice during the Vietnamese war where audible and inaudible frequencies were played into the jungle to weaken the guerilla fighters and make them surrender. When audible frequencies were played at high volumes, the fighters would become death; inaudible freqencies would affect their nervous system and it is experimented, causing internal spasms as their organs encounter specific resonant frequencies.
Infrasound is used as means of urban control: ‘mosquito device’ is introduced in UK to break up gangs of teenagers as it emits an irritant buzz. As human threshold of audible high frequencies weakens when getting older, it is to be heard by people under 20s.
Relating to consumerism, specific sounds related to brands, holosonic devices are being developed: audible only when facing the speaker in a specific angle.
In near future, we could be controlled by adaptive ‘artificial acoustic agencies’- tracking movements, manipulating activities, modulating behavior.
To fight sonic manipulation, a personal shield is a music player and headphones, allowing to
create your own environment.
Related video material:
natural weapons
high frequency
rumbler
