The urban soundscape, whether it is perceived as quiet or loud, interesting or annoying, is a fundamental aspect of the city life, which shapes and is shaped by the people who live in it. Soundscape studies, first developed by Murray R. Schafer, provide valuable lenses through which someone can examine this dynamic relationship between humans and their auditory environment. Although originally focused on improving the acoustic aspect of industrialized cities, the field has grown and expanded to become part of interdisciplinary thought regarding sound in the modern world. In this seminar, we will familiarize ourselves with fundamental concepts of soundscape theory and explore elements of the urban soundscape that are also part of popular culture. We will delve into the role of individualized portable sound devices and their use as a medium with which someone can shape their auditory environment in different cultural contexts. Furthermore, we will examine the busking culture and the street music scene of Berlin (Nowakowski, 2016) as an integral component of the urban soundscape. As a part of active participation in the class, we will do soundwalks in group and as individuals, with the goal to physically understand the aspects we will be discussing during the semester.
- Course owner: Maria Paizi Ntinou