Re: [microsound] personal music

[nuuk <nuuk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

it would seem that in this day and age of political and social polarization,
"personal devices" in general and beyond the walkman, may be considered both
the result and the reason for our current place in social evolution (or
devolution).  the walkman exemplifies the world of self with the ability to
block out the ambient (or otherwise) sounds of our natural surrounding.  we
are no longer taking part in the same aural cues.

sound plays an important role in our interpretation of the world.  if one is
listening to a walkman, removing themselves from the collective aural
environment while they are stuck in the same physical space, they certainly
are not having the same cultural experience.  the opportunities for shared
experience are giving way to the preferred personal experience, growing the
gap between the personal reality and the collective reality.

escape or engage?  headphones or not?

in BENJAMIN BARBER's book, "Jihad vs. McWorld", he makes this interested
point:  "The walkman is a perfect exemplar of the impact of new hard
technologies on choice and liberty, appearing to expand each, yet in truth
contracting both .. [The Walkman] insinuates lifestyle preferences directly
into the inner ear while modifying traditional behaviors in socially
significant ways.  The Walkman technology transforms listening from a social
into a solitary occupation .."

of course, for a marginal part of the population, the Walkman may provide a
form of engagement, but i think i speak fairly when i say that the Walkman,
for the most part, removes the self from the plural environment.

//nuuk


On 5/26/02 1:15 PM, "scissors for sparrow" <transmit@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> hello,
> 
> i was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on personal music players
> (mp3/md/discman/walkman/radio etc), and how they affect/effect our
> experiences and perceptions of place, space and subjectivity.  if you think
> this is off-topic, please give me your thoughts off-list.