Re-Making Sound: An Experiential Approach to Sound Studies

by Justin Patch, Thomas Porcello

Re-Making Sound is concise and flexible primer to sound studies. It takes students through six ways of conceptualizing sound and its links to other social soundscapes; noise; sound and semiotics of the voice; sound and/through/in text; background sound/sound design; and sound art. Each chapter summarizes the history and scholarly theoretical underpinnings of these areas and concludes with a student activity that concretizes the historical and theoretical discussion via sound-making projects. With chapters designed to be flexible and non-sequential, the text fits within various course designs, and includes an introduction to key concepts in sound and sound studies, a cumulative concluding chapter with sound accompanying podcast exercise, and an extensive bibliography for students to pursue sound studies beyond the book itself.

200 pages, Paperback

Published February 24, 2022

Reviews

[Tara Brabazon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fine book. It can be used to teach sound studies at an honours, capstone or Masters level. But for those of us interested in auditory culture, it offers a precise and considered reflection on the historiography of sound. Barthes and Derrida are present - obviously. But there is granular and careful attention to sound art, sonic architecture, text and context, and translation.

While there may be nothing revelatory or stunning in this book, it is meaningful and quietly powerful. This seems pretty appropriate for a book on sound.

Well written. Well researched. Recommended.