Just Beyond Listening: Essays of Sonic Encounter

Just Beyond Listening explores how sound interacts with other senses and emotions, challenging traditional views of aurality. It investigates sound's physical presence, textual interference, spectral haunting, and its impact on our experience of the world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 14 November 2023
Publisher: University of California Press

Just Beyond Listening is a thought-provoking exploration that delves into the complexities of encounters with sound that challenge conventional understandings of aurality. In a series of insightful essays, Michael C. Heller examines the multifaceted roles of sound in interplay with various sensory and emotional modalities, including physical co-presence, textual interference, and spectral haunting. The text delves into the exploration of sound that is perceived in different parts of the body, influenced by the cross-wiring of senses, weaponized by the military, or mediated and transformed by cultural practices and memory. Building upon recent scholarship in sound studies and affect theory, Heller poses profound questions about not only the acoustic propagation of sound but also how sonic presences shape our overall perception and experience of the world surrounding us.

The book's opening essay, "The Listening Body," sets the stage for the subsequent chapters by examining the ways in which sound resonates within our physical selves. Heller explores the sensory experiences of sound, such as the vibrations and sensations it elicits, and how these experiences are intertwined with our emotional and bodily responses. He also considers the ways in which sound can transcend the boundaries of the body, reaching our minds and emotions through auditory hallucinations and other altered states of consciousness.

In the following essay, "The Sonic Archive," Heller explores the role of sound in shaping cultural memory and identity. He examines how sound recordings, such as music, voice recordings, and environmental sounds, can preserve and transmit cultural heritage, as well as how they can be used to construct and challenge narratives of history and identity. Heller also considers the ethical implications of recording and preserving sound, particularly in the context of colonialism and cultural appropriation.

In the essay "The Sonic Weapon," Heller examines the military applications of sound and how it has been used to manipulate and control populations. He explores the use of sound as a weapon of war, including the development of sonic weapons such as bombs and grenades, as well as the psychological effects of sound on soldiers and civilians. Heller also considers the ways in which sound can be used for peaceful purposes, such as in music therapy and meditation.

The essay "The Sonic Mediation" explores the role of sound in mediating and transforming our experiences of the world. Heller examines how sound can be used to create immersive and sensory experiences, such as in music performances and virtual reality experiences, as well as how it can be used to facilitate communication and understanding between different cultures and communities. He also considers the ways in which sound can be used to heal and restore balance to the body and mind.

The final essay, "The Sonic Imagination," explores the creative and imaginative possibilities of sound. Heller examines how sound can be used as a tool for artistic expression, including music composition, sound design, and performance art. He also considers the ways in which sound can be used to evoke emotions and create meaning, and how it can be used to explore the boundaries of perception and understanding.

Throughout the book, Heller draws on a wide range of sources and perspectives, including philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and cultural studies. He combines theoretical analysis with personal anecdotes and case studies to provide a rich and nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between sound and human experience.

In conclusion, Just Beyond Listening is a groundbreaking exploration of the multifaceted roles of sound in human life. Through a series of thought-provoking essays, Michael C. Heller challenges conventional understandings of aurality and provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between sound and human experience. The book offers valuable insights into the ways in which sound can shape our perceptions, emotions, and experiences of the world, and it provides a framework for thinking about the ethical and creative implications of sound in our modern world. Whether you are a musician, a scholar, or simply someone who enjoys listening to music or the sounds of nature, this book will inspire and challenge you in equal measure.

Weight: 516g
Dimension: 158 x 236 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520350779