Identify the article you chose and why you chose it
The article I chose to respond to is "On a Clear Day I Can Hear Forever" by Gary Ferrington. The reason I chose this article is because it showed me an entire different way of observing my surroundings than I am used to. It really made me think about how much I might have missed by not paying as close of attention to the sounds in my environment. After reading this article I have a much greater appreciation for the sounds around me and I tend to take more time to just listen. Out of all of the articles we have read, this one has had the biggest efffect on me.
What are the main points of the essay?
The majority of the essay is Gary Ferrington describing the sounds of his city. He goes into great detail describing all of the different sounds he observes from his apartment, including passing trains, cars, and planes, church bells, birds, and my favorite... wind. I believe that the main point of this piece is to urge his readers to take the time to listen and to observe their surroundings with their ears. Ferrington hopes to instill his appreciation for sounds upon all of his readers.
How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your own practice as a media artist?
Prior to reading his article, Ferrington's ideas were not very relevant to my media practices. However, after reading the piece through three times and taking some time to consider the message within it, my practices have changed. I never used to just sit and listen to my surroundings just for the sake of listening. I was mostly a visual observer. Now, thanks to this article, I often find myself taking in my surroundings with my eyes shut and my ears at the ready. Now, more than ever, I pay close attention to the audio aspect of my art projects as well as the visual and other aspects. As a whole, this article has greatly effected my media practices for the better, and I believe it will help guide me to making quality pieces in the future.
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1 comment:
I think that's very interesting. It's a lot like August Rush, you know? He hears all these things and then he goes and writes a whole symphony based on the sounds he hears wherever he is. I was just thinking about that today, sitting by the side of the lake, and listening to the music of the cicadas, gnats, and the softly trickling stream, mixed with the further-away sounds of cars and laughing children. I think I'll go and read that article now...
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