Sound Pressure: How Speaker Systems Influence, Manipulate and Torture

Sound Pressure explores the historical and contemporary use of speaker systems to influence human behavior, from industrialization to torture. It identifies the logic behind the miniaturization and disappearance of visible sound system technologies and charts an evolution of speaker technology that will be used to influence, manipulate, and torture the collective and isolated body.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Sound Pressure delves into the profound impact of speaker systems installed in public, employment, military, and entertainment environments on the physiological and psychological organization of humans over the past century. The networked Wired Radio speakers of the 1920s industrialized factories set the stage for a narrative centered around the insidious use of sound systems, from the surround-sound techniques employed during the Waco siege to the implementation of sonic torture in Guantánamo and Abu Ghraib.

Crucially, Sound Pressure unravels the logic behind the miniaturization and disappearance of visible sound system technologies as they transition into the ultrasonic dynamics of the Hypersonic Sound System and covert bone conduction techniques of Whispering Windows. The book charts an evolution of speaker technology that has been, and will continue to be, employed to influence, manipulate, and torture the collective and isolated body. It amplifies the connections between LRADs (Long-Range Acoustic Devices), iPods, Mosquitos, Intonarumori, loudhailers, and Sequential Arc Discharge Acoustic Generators, forming the meta-network of speaker systems through which rhythms and cadences of power are transmitted, connected, and modulated.

The impact of Sound Pressure extends beyond the realm of audio technology. It raises concerns about the ethical implications of using sound for coercion and control, particularly in authoritarian regimes. The book serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the potential dangers of manipulating sound to shape public opinion and suppress dissent. It emphasizes the need for transparency and accountability in the use of audio technologies, particularly in sensitive environments such as prisons and military installations.

In conclusion, Sound Pressure is a thought-provoking and indispensable book that sheds light on the hidden history of speaker systems and their profound impact on human society. It explores the ways in which sound has been used to manipulate, control, and torture individuals and communities, and raises important ethical questions about the responsible use of audio technologies. By examining the connections between different speaker systems and their role in transmitting and modulating power, the book offers a valuable insight into the power dynamics that shape our world.

Weight: 331g
Dimension: 229 x 151 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538147948