Soundwalk Response/Questions

1. Were you able to find places and spaces where you could really
listen?

I noticed that when I was in a location that was more quiet, I could hear isolated sounds better. It was easier for me to listen to one sound, then many at the same time.

2. Was it possible to move without making a sound?

It was possible if I really tried, but I was wearing a jacket and when I walked I could hear my jacket rustling.

3. What happened when you plugged your ears, and then unplugged them?

When I plugged my ears I still could hear sounds, but they had a distinct echo, almost like I was under water, and I could hear myself breathing more than anything else. When I unplugged them I could still hear a slight echo for a little bit, but the sounds were more clear.

4. What types of sounds were you able to hear? List them.

Cars, busses, people talking, mostly on their cell phones, mostly people talking though.

5. Were you able to differentiate between sounds that had a
recognizable source and those sounds you could not place?

Yes

6. Were you able to differentiate human, mechanical, and natural sounds?

Yes. The human sounds were either people talking, walking, etc. The mechanical sounds were more of a roar or rumble, and the natural sounds, like wind, or trees rustling, happened when we were outside, and I could feel and see it, as well as hearing it.

7. Were you able to detect subtleties, changes, or variations in the
everpresent drone?

Yes, when we were outside, or in different areas, the drone sounded higher, or lower at times.

8. Extremely close sounds? Sounds coming from very far away?

Closer sounds I noticed were mostly people talking as they were walking by, or hearing my classes footsteps when we were climbing the stairs. When we were in the student union I could hear the elevator dinging from far away. When we were outside I noticed cars that were both close, and in the distance.

9. Were you able to intervene in the urban landscape and create your
own sounds by knocking on a resonant piece of metal, activating wind
chimes, etc.?

The sound that I created on my own unintentionally was sniffing. It was pretty cold outside, and my nose was running pretty bad. We also knocked on a window as we walked by, and I could hear my own footsteps.

10. Do you feel you have a new understanding or appreciation of the
sounds of our contemporary landscape/cityscape?

Definitely. I never took the time to sit and listen to the sounds outside or inside. I'm usually one of the people that I hear talking on their phones walking by.

11. How do you think your soundwalk experience will affect your
practice as a media artist, if at all?

I think I have a better appreciation for sounds. And even the smallest sound can have a huge impact on a piece of media, in a huge way.