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Thoughts in the Field: ‘Self-reflexive narrative’ in field recording

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2016

Isobel Anderson  and
Tullis Rennie
Isobel Anderson*
Affiliation:
Sonic Arts Research Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland
Tullis Rennie*
Affiliation:
City University London, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB
*
Emails: [email protected]; [email protected]
Emails: [email protected]; [email protected]
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Abstract

This article considers the presence of ‘self-reflexive narrative’ in field recording. The authors interrogate a common presumption within sonic arts practice and sound studies discourse that field recordings represent authentic, impartial and neutral documents. Historically, field recording practice has not clearly represented narratives of how, when, why and by whom a field recording is made. In contrast, the social sciences have already experienced a narrative ‘turn’ since the 1970s, which highlighted the importance of recognising the presence and role of the researcher in the field, and also in representations of fieldwork. This provides an alternative framework for understanding field recording, in considering the importance of the recordist and their relationship with their recordings. Many sonic arts practitioners have already acknowledged that the subjective, personal qualities of field recording should be embraced, highlighted and even orated in their work. The authors’ own collaborative project Thoughts in the Field further explores these ideas, by vocalising ‘self-reflexive narratives’ in real time, within field recordings. The authors’ collaborative composition, Getting Lost (2015), demonstrates the compositional potentials this approach offers.

Type
Articles
Information
Organised Sound , Volume 21 , Special Issue 3: Sound and Narrative , December 2016 , pp. 222 - 232
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2016 

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References

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Discography

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