We started the workshop discussing this week’s reading from Theo van Leeuwen. The reading focuses on sound’s perspective and social distance.

Perspective

• Figure: most important sound/ focus of attention
• Ground: less prominent sound, listener’s social world, setting context
• Field: most distant sound, provides spatial volume, as background

Social Distance

• Intimate : very close (e.g couple), soft voice, whisper
• Personal: close friend, relaxed, conversational voice
• Informal:  someone we know but aren’t close with, still casual tone but a hint of nervousness
• Formal: just anyone, lecture-like, monotonous, less variation in tone, written/prepared speech
• Public: big space with a lot of people, shouting, max loudness

We’re also asked to look at still images, to think about how we can create a sound scape within the image shown. Then, we listened to an audio portrait: ‘My Lobotomy’: Howard Dully’s Journey

At the same time, we’re asked to identify the excerpt in the following categories:

Story Elements:

• Focus/Theme: Howard’s lobotomy journey
• Hook (what makes is special): what lobotomy is, it’s procedure
• Plot: Howard experienced lobotomy at the age of 12 which was performed by Walter Freeman, and he’s in a search to find out why he had gone through the process.
• Setting: Carol’s house, Studio, Frank’s house, nursing home
• Conflict: There are way more tragic than successful result from the lobotomy procedure. The patient’s
• Characters: Howard Dully, Dr Walter Freeman, Frank Freeman, Ellen Ionesco, Dr. Elliot Valenstein, Mrs. Dully, Dully’s father, Rebecca Walter
• Mood portrayed: sad, sympathetic

Sonic Elements:

techniques/devices/layers used (speech, music, other sound)

• narration – studio, read
• archival recording
• background sound, classical music for an interview
• location (field)

Sonic qualities:

(rhythm, pitch, loudness, feel (timbre))

We have yet discussed this part, but in my own analysis, Dully sounds really calm throughout the narration, with little emotion shown and the volume is also stable throughout. However, the interviews has a lot of changes in all aspects.

Lastly, we’re given some time to discuss on our PB4 among our group mates before the class finally ended.