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: Paperback / softback
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, encompassing physical co-presence, textual interference, and spectral haunting. The text delves into the exploration of sound experienced in different parts of the body, influenced by the cross-wiring of the 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 comprehensive perception of the world surrounding us.

The book's opening essay, "The Listening Body," sets the stage for the subsequent chapters by examining the embodied nature of sound and its relationship to the human body. Heller explores how sound resonates within our bodies, affecting our physical sensations, emotions, and cognitive processes. He also discusses the ways in which sound can be usedrapeutically, promoting relaxation, healing, and well-being.

In the following essay, "The Sonic Environment," Heller examines the role of sound in shaping our perception of the world around us. He explores how soundscapes, urban noise, and natural environments influence our mood, behavior, and sense of place. He also discusses the ways in which sound technology has transformed the way we experience and interact with sound, from music production to communication and entertainment.

The third essay, "The Social Life of Sound," explores the social and cultural dimensions of sound. Heller examines how sound is used in interpersonal communication, social rituals, and cultural performances. He also discusses the ways in which sound can be used to create and maintain social identities, as well as the ways in which it can be contested and subverted.

The fourth essay, "The Political Life of Sound," examines the ways in which sound is used as a tool of power and control. Heller explores how sound is used in propaganda, surveillance, and military operations, as well as the ways in which it can be used to resist and challenge these practices. He also discusses the ethical implications of using sound in these ways, and the need for responsible and ethical use of sound technology.

The final essay, "The Spectral Life of Sound," explores the metaphysical and supernatural dimensions of sound. Heller examines how sound can be perceived as a physical entity, as well as how it can be understood as a metaphor for deeper philosophical and spiritual concepts. He also discusses the ways in which sound can be used to communicate with other beings, and the potential for interspecies communication.

Throughout the book, Heller draws on a wide range of sources, including philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, musicology, and cultural studies. He combines theoretical insights with empirical research to provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of the complex and multifaceted nature of sound.

In conclusion, Just Beyond Listening is a groundbreaking exploration of the many ways in which sound shapes our lives and experiences. By challenging conventional understandings of aurality and exploring the diverse and complex roles of sound in our sensory, emotional, and social lives, Heller provides a valuable contribution to the field of sound studies. This book will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and anyone who is curious about the power and potential of sound in our world.

Weight: 390g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520350786