During week 3 of Seeing the Unseen, we were introduced properly to Assessment 2, such as who my partner is and what our recipe will be for the 2 minute video. It was also the week in which the idea of noticing only audio was introduced. The readings for week 3, ‘Field Recordings as Sonic Journalism and ‘Listening, Meaning and Power’ from the book ‘On Listening’ give unique insight into the idea of solely listening without viewing. Peter Cusack in the chapter ‘Field Recordings as Sonic Journalism’ straight away makes reference to an audio clip called ‘Starry Night’ by Mazen Kerbaj, a clip we listened to in class. This audio clip was recorded from a balcony “during Israel’s summer war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.”

The reading highlights some key sounds that are hard to miss such as dogs barking, blast triggers and car alarms, however in class, with headphones on, we were given the chance to just close our eyes and listen. The point of that exercise was obviously to try to hear as many sounds as possible, yet without immediately categorizing those sounds. To be able to let the mind wonder and hear a sound first without constantly picturing what the sound is straight away. The reading also discusses field recordings in sonic journalism, which is only extremely clear to hear without visuals, as it is not an obvious sound. Field recordings “transmit a powerful sense of spatiality, atmosphere and timing”, (Cusack), for example when listening to ‘Starry Night’ without visuals, I could notice unique sounds in the distance such as faint sirens and alarms, which does help set a location in ones mind as to where the location of sound is.

The activity conducted in Monday’s class of week 3 was related to this idea of location sound and field recording. Jack and I decided to record sound in Melbourne Central Station, we therefore recorded two minutes each of diegetic sound in one spot, and not recording any individual sounds in particular. We also recorded 5 10 second audio clips of specific train station sounds. Jack and I did surprisingly find this challenging, having to find 10 different sounds all together. Yet what I have learnt since completing this activity, is that I should stop focusing too much on what sounds or footage I should record prior to recording, but think about what I can notice after recording or filming. And especially in terms of sound itself, perhaps the idea of only recording sound for assessment 2 with nothing visual to go with it is an interesting idea. As perhaps it will draw sounds out that would not have been recognised if there was a visual with it.