Over Christmas and just before the holiday period I had established a rough first draft. Initially, I was approaching the script as an ethnographic type of performance. wanting it to be very specific and formal. I worked with tutors for my dyslexia on writing the script but after reading it back from taking a break I very much feel it’s presented in the wrong format. It’s not a script it’s an essay. Now I’m sure some audio papers can be presented in a very strict academic sense but I don’t feel like this script maximises the abilities and features that an audio paper can allow.
I’m going to upload below my rough script and my log of notes and information that I’ve made. Today I’m going to plan towards the next steps and begin continuing my work on this audio paper. I do feel like perhaps changing topics. Noise pollution and the role a sound artist could play in it is perhaps a bit vague and allows for too much scientific information which I don’t want to dabble in too much.
Since re-reading the brief there are a few things that really stood out for me. Number one is that it should be a “Documentary style audio paper” I’m not sure if my script currently is. It is a little and does go on about noise pollution in a documentary style but I’m reading this more as a historical documentary. Maybe that’s just what I find easier?
Second, that is should reflect social and political issues relating to your subject. There are many social and political elements of noise pollution and who can listen. So I have definitely touched the right part here.
The main point I think I have perhaps missed is that it should be in the sound art field. From the list mentioned mine isn’t. This is not a problem but I feel I might have perhaps missed the reason behind this audio paper. I was initially interested in how sound artists bring awareness or use noise pollution as a tool in sound arts. From the visiting practitioners series where a few artists use permanent sound installations to recycle noise pollution into resonating sounds. And this really fascinated me. The planets health and global warming are huge topics right now and many say we have almost run out of time to act before things get worse. Population increase as well. I did and do feel like sound arts can be related to this field but I’m unsure to what extent. Am i just making this harder for myself? I don’t necessarily feel like doing an audio paper that requires little work, for example, the history of something, Insert sound arts topic here. But rather my opinion on a specific subject related to sound arts and its future understanding. I’m going to revisit the lecture slides and have a think. I have plenty of time left to do this audio paper and have as much time to dedicate myself to this so it shouldn’t be an issue. More the will currently.
Here is the rough draft of the original document.
What role can a sound artist play in combatting inner-city noise pollution?
Noise pollution is an ever-growing problem in our inner cities. Since the development of cities, noise pollution has been an issue noticed by scientists and urban cityscape designers but never taken seriously on its detrimental effects on our wellbeing. We are going into an uncertain future where sea levels are said to rise and close off landmasses forcing us to live in closer proximity to one another than previously ever been. Noise pollution is set to become one of the biggest issues to combat. This audio paper will discuss initially what noise pollution is, followed by how it has a detrimental effect on our wellbeing, mental health and life experience in cities. Then, on how noise pollution is currently handled and fought against in cities such as London.
Paragraph 1 what is noise pollution
The definition of noise pollution is harmful and or annoying levels of noise. The noise itself can be seen in its most literal sense to be considered an auditory phenomenon. Or as by some scientists, as an acoustic vibration that is random, complex and has no order. Now the Noise we are talking about today is in regards to the word pollution. Noise and pollution together have a whole different meaning. So, noise pollution in this audio document will be defined as dangerous unwanted sounds. For example, As Greg Hainge says in his book Noise Matters. “Many others, especially those belonging to the anti-noise lobby, qualify it as ‘any auditory sensation which is disagreeable or uncomfortable” Although some scholars speak on how noise and modern noise pollution is a part of our new sonic landscapes. As a species, modern children are already born with resistance to loud noises from being brought up with noise pollution. Noise Pollution is one of the worse things that humans can experience auditory effects have always been unnoticed as extreme as visuals.
Conclude: how does noise pollution affect our health
Paragraph 2. Noise pollutions in cities and cities relationship to noise pollution.
WHAT IS A CITY?
Cities are large populations of humans in a short amount of space. Cities usually harbour large corporations, opportunities and better living conditions. For some moving and living in a city is the only option and this is what makes it even more important to combat noise pollution.
HOW BAD IS IT?
Noise pollution is often overlooked in modern society. There is plenty of evidence showcasing the negative effects of noise pollution. The world health organisation have stated that there is a general agreement that exposure for more than 8 hours to sound levels in excess of 85 dB is potentially hazardous; to place this in context, 85 dB is roughly equivalent to the noise of heavy truck traffic on a busy road.
Noise pollution is the most major disturbance of sleep as well as Cardiovascular disease. The strongest evidence for the cardiovascular effect of noise has been the study of blood pressure and occupational noise exposure.
WHY ARE CITIES THE WORST FOR NOISE POLLUTION
The worst cities for noise pollution are currently.
1. Karachi, Pakistan. The capital of Pakistan is known to have a huge population of 15 million. No wonder it’s the largest noise polluter.
2. Mumbai, India, it’s said the noise levels in the streets of Mumbai have been recorded to go over 100dB. Way above levels of harming human hearing.
3. Cairo, Egypt, Actual deaths have been linked to noise pollution in this city. Not a rare case but for it to be actually acknowledged is something in itself.
EG. CASE STUDY IN LONDON LCC INTERVIEWS
WHERE ARE THE WORST AREAS OF NOISE POLLUTION IN LONDON
London Heathrow is the largest airport in England. Due to urbanism and population increasing. Cities growing larger and larger stretching beyond their boundaries. An airport like London Heathrow is able to exist to the detriment of its neighbours inhabiting the area. Only due to society benefiting financially more from travel being faster to a city like London.
There are current discussions on creating a third terminal at London Heathrow airport which is said to absolutely break the guidelines set by the WHO. It is estimated that 725,500 people are exposed to noise from Heathrow. Which in comparison to an airport such as Frankfurt which is seen to be the loudest airport in Europe is said to only affect one-third of this amount.
Paragraphs 3&4. HOW IS THIS NOISE POLLUTION BEING COMBATTED? WHAT IS BEING DONE TO BETTER THIS ISSUE
GOVERNMENT DONT CARE
As it currently stands. Governments prioritise an economy flourishing over the importance of the human body. We find instances of privilege in our society around noise pollution and who is able to experience it. If the government was truly invested in protecting its people from noise pollution we wouldn’t even have the idea of a third terminal at London Heathrow as a possibility.
POPULATION AMOUNT DOESN’T HELP
The increased level of population we are having is also not helping noise pollution. In cities like London where on average 14,550 residents per square mile noise pollution becomes impossibly to avoid. The lack of awareness amongst our politicians means that global warming is happening at an alarming rate. They say we have less than 5 years to act before a global rise of 2 degrees becomes inevitable. Due to ocean levels rising and droughts. We as a species will be forced to live in areas of the planet that are inhabitable which will slowly decrease if we continue. Meaning we will end up squashed together.
MATERIALS FOR BUILDINGS?
Another aspect councils and governments, even architects don’t take enough time to think about when designing their buildings and superstructures is the material.
GLASS ON SKYSCRAPERS?
SOUND ARTS AND THE CANNON
WHO ARE CURRENT SOUND ARTISTS DOING IN REACTION TO NOISE POLLUTION
POLITICAL SOUND ARTISTS
In what ways are they combatting the issue
RAISING AWARENESS
DESIGNING PERMANENT SOUND INSTALLATIONS
Paragraph 5. FUTURE URBAN DESIGNING, WHAT WILL CITIES WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE
WHAT WILL LONDON OR CITIES BE LIKE IN 10-20 YEARS TIME
WHAT WILL THIS BE LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN
SPECULATION – could sound artists be designing in a better way?
CONCLUSION
WHAT ROLE CAN A SOUND ARTIST HAVE IN SOUND DESIGNING CITIES
What are the best solutions? What is the worst? The most realistic solution?
Are sound artists effectively tackling these issues?
BASED ON THE RESEARCH INTO URBAN DESIGNING OF CITIES FOR THE FUTURE WHAT WILL THIS SPACE BE LIKE FOR A SOUND ARTIST