Workshop #3-Listening To Other Audio Walks

Walking in Jackson Square Park and listening to the Janet Cardiff Audio Tour on St. Paddy's Day evening.

Thank you Andy Dayton for the photo!


Thank you collaborators for another workshop full of engaging discussion and challenging, brilliant ideas!

We realize that it may have been difficult to put the development of our audio tours on hold to listen to the examples we experienced this week... The inspiration they seemed to provide and provoke was evident as we discussed and critiqued them after listening. How did these examples influence your ideas or shape your visions for our own walking tours?

Our St. Patrick's evening went a little like this.......
We listened to two audio-guided walks, had a writing exercise, and some great discussion.


The Chinatown Tour:
What did we see just by listening to sound? (Some feedback from our workshop):

-Overstimulated by all of the sounds. Could be difficult to actually experience and see.
-Softer ambient sounds may be more effective.
-It is confusing to envision people in a place where they are not.
-The sound of the gongs are unbelievable and unrealistic...sort of cheesy and over the top.
-"I could smell Chinatown."
-The woman's voice moves all around me-confusing and unrealistic.
-Afraid this much sound would be confusing on a real walk...especially combined with all the real-time, actual sounds.
-This felt more like an armchair walk...a way to experience a place you may not actually visit.
-The use of different voices is effective.
-Used the listener's imagination to provide a historic perspective and experience.

The Janet Cardiff Walk:
How did you like the sound? What did you experience? (some workshop feedback):

-The sound and background noise are very realistic - beautifully recorded and edited.
-This sound had punctuation - one sound of water bubbling vs. the over-all wash of sounds. It wasn't ambient like the Chinatown walk and the unexpectedness of, for example - dogs barking or kids laughing - made the sounds more effective and 'noticed'.
-Sound to create the past (ex. the Carriage Wheel sounds brought us back in history).
-Ques, auditory clues, and beeps helped to signify a transition - a shift of time and space - and made it easier to follow along with spatial, geographic, and historical shifts that happened in the recording.
-Some thought it was boring and they lost interest, esp. about the more personal or self-referential parts.
-Music was really effective in setting the mood.
-Some folks found themselves unconsciously walking while listening...not really paying attention to where they were going but taking an 'in-your-head' journey.
-As we walked outside through the park and along the streets, most noticed that physically being outside can really effect the experience in many ways.
-Some thought she was 'too cool for school'. I'd prefer just the facts.


Check out these websites for more works by audio makers:
http://www.thislife.org/radio_archives.aspx
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/episodes

Each week, we suggest an Exploration for the upcoming week - something to do or think about that may enhance the workshop for you and those with whom you are working.

Exploration:
Collect images of places on your potential walk, either historical or present day. Drawings, photos, journal entries of your own are good to explore. We will share these next week.


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