How the World Listens

Tom A. Garner is a Senior Lecturer in Interactive Technologies at the University of Portsmouth. Originally from a background in popular music performance, Tom now works extensively in emergent approaches to auditory perception and extended reality (XR) technology. His previous books include Sonic Virtuality and Echoes of Other Worlds.

• CONTENTSList of Figures List of TablesAcknowledgementsINTRODUCTIONOrigins and precedentThe habitusSociocultural theoryCHAPTER ONE: SOUND AND THEORYAsking the right questionsA (quite) brief review of sound theory & perspectivesWhat is sound?Sound as a soundwaveSound as an object or an event (or both […] or neither)Extending sound theory even furtherBeyond the acoustic definition What is listening and how is sound controlled?Typologies of listeningThe function of soundAcoustic ecologyChapter One summary: questions begetting questionsCHAPTER TWO: SOUND AND RESEARCHThe madness, the methodology, and the methodThe chain of study design, and its four linksThe research onionApproaching ethnographyQualitative v. quantitativeThe function and values of ethnography (and when to use it)Some key trends in ethnographyAutoethnographyIs ethnography the right choice for studying sound?Making sense of sound studiesEthnomusicology, for a bit of historyDoes sound studies actually study sound?Approaching sound studiesSo, you want to do some interviews?When and how to use an interviewThe ethnographic interviewAnalysing interview resultsHow can technology help?The chosen methodChapter Two summary: So, how did it all go then?CHAPTER THREE: SOUND AND MEANINGImmediate reactionsEmergent themesObjective aspects of soundMeaning through definitionPerceptual responsesImmersion and persistence in soundThe listenerFunctions and valuesThe affordances of soundThe value of soundAffect and identityFeeling and the emotional aspects of soundMusic, affect, and identitySound and spiritualityMeaning through workChapter Three summary: the meaning of sound’s meaningCHAPTER FOUR: SOUND AND CULTUREThemes of culture and sound in researchEarlier research More contemporary perspectivesHow should we be defining ‘culture’?Initial thoughts from the interviewsShort and sweet responsesDetailed, and a little more intimateEmerging topics for further discussionThe sound of coffeeSynaesthesiaMusic and cultureLocal, historical, and seasonal effectsVoice and languageReligion and ceremonyChapter Four summary: not something I normally think about CHAPTER FIVE: SOUND AND PLACEHow does the world sound?Conceptualising the soundscapeContinental soundscapesThe Big IceApplication of soundscape studiesPre-interview observations of sound and placeSome local perspectivesA question of sportThe quiet revolution of electric vehiclesApplication of soundscape studiesEurope and the Russian federationSonic boundaries and the sounds of city and countrysideMeteorological effectsAsia and OceaniaDefining the Eastern soundscapeDifferent beeps and louder dogsSoundscapes and routineCommon features, topology, and long-term human influencesThe AmericasBiodiversity and the effects of migrationThe calls of commerceAfricaTradition and spiritualityTransportationA brief epilogue: sound everywhere and nowhereChapter Five summary: there’s a lot going onCHAPTER SIX: SOUND AND EVERYDAY EXPERIENCEHow does sound function in your everyday life?Background soundSituational awarenessChallenges with soundWhat is your relationship with sound within your home?Outside sound sources and architectural effectsSources of sound from inside the homeSound, stress, anxiety, and relaxation in the homeGood and bad sound in an everyday contextPre-interview observationsThe good, the bad, and the "well, it depends…"The etiquette of soundSound-etiquette in domestic lifeRespectful sound in publicSocial sound and vocal expressionChapter Six summary: who doesn’t like the sound of a crow cawing?CHAPTER SEVEN: SOUND AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICEHow does sound feature in your profession?General functions of sound at workSonic warfareSound professional by industryDigital gamesFilm and theatreSound professionals’ relationships with soundAwareness and readiness to captureImpact on everyday enjoyment Changes in perspectivePerceptual effectsCultural factors, expectations, and creative responseCultural effects on practiceUniversality and concerns over detracting from the artDifferent standards and expectations The return of the East-West dichotomyA few further examplesChapter Seven summary: on the verge of global sound?CONCLUSIONFinal answersIs the human relationship with sound different around the world?What did you learn from your autoethnography?Do you still hate qualitative research?Index