Sonic Flux: Sound, Art, and Metaphysics

Artists have explored noise, silence, and environmental sound in the sonic arts, revealing sound to be a continuous material flow that precedes and exceeds human expressions. This exploration has led to the development of a materialist metaphysics and a challenge to cultural theory's prevailing positions, proposing a realist and materialist aesthetics that can account for sonic art and artistic production in general.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 02 November 2018
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

From Edison's invention of the phonograph to contemporary field recording and sound installation, artists have increasingly explored the domains that have traditionally defined music: noise, silence, and environmental sound. Christoph Cox argues that these advancements in the sonic arts are not only aesthetically significant but also philosophically profound, revealing sound to be a continuous material flow that precedes and exceeds human expressions. Cox demonstrates how philosophers and sonic artists have delved into this "sonic flux" throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Sonic Flux, a philosophical exploration of works by John Cage, Maryanne Amacher, Max Neuhaus, Christian Marclay, and many others, plays a crucial role in developing a materialist metaphysics. It challenges prevailing positions in cultural theory by proposing a realist and materialist aesthetics that can account for sonic art and artistic production in general.

In the early days of sound recording, artists were drawn to the raw, unprocessed sound of the environment, seeking to capture its essence and convey it to the listener. This fascination with noise and silence continued to evolve as technology advanced, leading to the creation of experimental sound installations that blurred the boundaries between art and science.

One of the key figures in the exploration of sonic flux is John Cage, whose work explored the relationship between sound and silence. Cage's "4'33"" is a famous piece of music that consists of four minutes and thirty-three seconds of silence. By removing the traditional musical elements of rhythm, melody, and harmony, Cage created a work that emphasizes the inherent beauty of silence and the potential for sound to be perceived as a purely acoustic phenomenon.

Maryanne Amacher, another influential figure in the field of sound art, is known for her work that explores the relationship between sound and space. Amacher's installations often involve the use of microphones and speakers to create immersive soundscapes that evoke a sense of place and time. Her work "Soundwalk" is a particularly notable example, in which participants walk through a landscape while listening to a series of recorded sounds that reflect the environment's acoustics.

Max Neuhaus, a philosopher and composer, was also deeply interested in the exploration of sonic flux. Neuhaus's work "The Origin of the Musical Work" argued that music is not merely a product of human creativity but is also a manifestation of the underlying structure of the universe. He believed that sound was a physical phenomenon that could be analyzed and studied using scientific methods, and that music was a form of communication that could transcend language barriers.

Christian Marclay, a multimedia artist, is known for his work that combines sound, image, and video to create complex and immersive installations. Marclay's "The Sound of One Hand Clapping" is a particularly famous example, in which a single hand clapping is recorded and played back over and over again, creating a mesmerizing and hypnotic soundscape.

Sonic Flux has had a significant impact on the development of contemporary art, challenging traditional notions of what art is and how it is made. It has opened up new possibilities for artistic expression and has encouraged artists to explore new ways of creating and experiencing sound.

In conclusion, the exploration of sonic flux by artists and philosophers has been a fascinating and transformative journey. Through their work, they have revealed sound to be a continuous material flow that precedes and exceeds human expressions, and have challenged prevailing positions in cultural theory by proposing a realist and materialist aesthetics that can account for sonic art and artistic production in general. Sonic Flux has had a significant impact on the development of contemporary art, and it is likely to continue to inspire and influence artists for years to come.

Weight: 442g
Dimension: 227 x 175 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226543178