Soundscape Recordings as Memories of the Audible Past

Soundscape Recordings as Memories of the Audible Past? Jan Marontate School of Communication, Simon Fraser University (Canada)

Vancouver Soundscape Series #14 Hastings (1967) #14 Hastings (1980 s)

Excerpts from oral history interviews (Video)

Values & Collecting Sounds Understanding the Collection as Cultural Heritage Expansion of views about what is considered worthy of inclusion in documenting the soundscape (Heinich, 2008) 1. Chronological: • disappearing & extinct environmental sounds • obsolescent technologies 2. Topographic : • urban, rural and historic town soundscapes • soundwalks 3. Categorical : • everyday life • specific activities • events (fireworks, parades, convocation) 4. Conceptual : • typical • singular, unique, exceptional • more information on context

Evaluation Criteria (Heinich 2008) 1 -Prescribed Criteria Univocal prescribed criteria (only have one meaning)--examples Coherence with procedures (ie. Current wisdom of good recording practices) Documented vs. undocumented Dated or undated Old vs. recent original vs. copy In good shape, in bad shape Authentic or naturalistic vs. unnatural Ambivalent Prescribed criteria (Evaluation criteria that take on different meanings. ) rare – common original – banal ecology – technology uniqueness – representative ethics – aesthetics absolute – relative 2 - Latent Criteria (not explicitly endorsed or rejected but invoked occasionally in the assessment of the value) Accessible vs. inaccessible Vulnerable vs. protects Vernacular vs. learned Modest vs. monumental Personal vs. impersonal 3 - Proscribed Criteria Legal, ethical, moral Beauty, aesthetic judgments, individual taste