The text begins with a quote by Toni Bambara and he speaks on the fact we might listen and hear but it’s difficult to understand what others say. Do we trust it, do we feel safe? This is a good reflection of listening attentively, I would say in contrast to hearing. Listening in itself is the act of paying attention to what is being heard. A conscious decision to understand.
1.2 speaks on the idea that a group listening action can be greater than a single person’s response to the question “what did you hear?” This I feel perhaps indicates the idea of removing one’s ego and thoughts when listening but rather to respond as a group. Non verbally or verbally. That listening as a group indicates a stature of thought that isn’t bound to one’s opinion. I feel this might relate to the last text Sonic Bodies, where it speaks on learning through sound as another way of receiving information and perhaps in this sense it is similar.
1.5 speaks on the experience of listening and sometimes silence is needed, as artists, we don’t always have to say things. To have a voice either. That with our bodies we do the talking and this is a different decision. It also speaks on that if listening and the condition of It is silence, that we can’t listen to the pain and suffering of others without being silent. That we don’t need to respond, to act in this situation is to just listen. Allow room for the person speaking or showcasing to be fully listened to.