Reading Assignment

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Sound Art – Reading Assignment

Seminar Questions

  1. What is sound?

Sound, as it is created, propagates amongst the hard Newtonian billiard balls of matter.

There are several layers of representations that be can classified as a sound.

Firstly, a recorded sound is one that was intentionally recorded. Secondly, are the additional sounds as a result of the environment and finally the sound of a recording apparatus itself.

  1. How has it been used in culture and society?

In essence, sound has been used as a monumental component in the history of human civilisation. It is at is very core, a representation of what they are. It is around art.

Furthermore, sound has been directed to the aesthetic purpose – of the arts.

  1. What makes it an art?

Sound art is classified as an art through its unifying experience, for the refinement of distinctions. The medium itself, is not the primary message.

Instead, Sound Art has in fact nothing much to do with either sound or art. What makes it an art involves in the innumerable ideas that can cultivate the medium of sound itself; not only within the confines of music but to create new forms.

  1. How does advancement in audio technology affect our sense?

It has managed to place influence within and amount our notions of sound, memory and communication.

For instance the concept of recording a sound – illustrated through the invention of a phonograph mimics the creation of sound onto a piece of wax and oil. Given’s the three-dimensionality of the vinyl record itself, one can argue that is has created a sense of life from a merely, movement of Newtonian matter.

Furthermore, the various levels of noise become san audible indication of information being sent.

Audio technology allowed the use of surface noise to subliminally create and confirm a reproduction is underway.

rhetoric of the image

1. What are some of the key questions Barthes aims to investigate in the article?

Barthes’ imposes us a set of questions that seek to interrogate the multiple layers of meanings in an image. Later on, he inherently reacts by forming questions that analyze the formation of such meaning.

At its essence, he claims that the ‘image immediately yields a first message whose substance is linguistic’. Immediately, we are recognized with the most surface comprehension regarding the subject in hand. What we are seeing, and how we can break it down into smaller pieces through our existing knowledge. Our understanding with regards to the image is one that is, rudimentary. We denote that image through the use of language and signs; inferring from whatever knowledge we possess.

Secondly, he proposes the idea of the image in its utmost abstraction – the image without any particular derived or implied meaning. To investigate the particular element of what the image really suggest, the context of the image is broken down into its literal representation.

Lastly, he suggests that the image itself evoke the ‘memory of innumerable paintings’, in a way to quote -art imitates life. This final question, however, extends the idea that the understanding of the image is largely cultural. It is not one that requires a general knowledge but inferred from concepts that are largely personal and innate.

Furthermore, Barthes aims to investigate the various forms of signs and signifiers that exist within an image. These signs links with our existing knowledge to create the denoted and connoted meaning in an image.

2. What are some of the key terms/ concepts introduced and discussed?

He presents to us three messages and meanings regarding the image. The Linguistic, Denoted and the Rhetoric. These concepts break down the essence of the image, to reveal the various layers in an almost methodological fashion.

3. Do you agree or disagree with his argument and point of view?

Roland Barthes’ methodological approach towards understanding and dissecting the core elements of the image is not without downsides.

Firstly, he stems his arguments upon the use of the advertising media. The apparent attempt to truly dissect the meaning of the image in a rather, systematic manner seems to be only relevant if applied against an image with a sense of objectivity.

In this way, his fixation upon the advertising media falls short if its methodology is directed towards understanding an image, more directed towards the arts of purely of the aesthetic.

The systematic-ness eludes the sense that every image can be broken down. To interrogate that every single image has an apparent meaning is in itself, not true. And if so, it falls short when the image challenges not other than the emotions of the aesthetic. If it has no objectivity, it collapses the baggage of curiosity. The image is an image only, nothing more nor less.

Nonetheless, Roland Barthes’ approach is with its own merits.

It is nonetheless, very important to impose upon ourselves questions that seek to understand an image. Regardless if the artist or illustrator has set no apparentness within it, we cannot simply be dismissive and pretend the image is what you feel and see.

To question the very act of why the image was made, as implied by Barthes’, promotes the concept of an artistic reflection. Although his approach and arguments stem towards the outwardness to understand another piece of image, we can also apply his systematic approach to dissect our own intentions, objectives, and emotions.

4. Provide a brief analysis (200 words) on an advertisement of your choice by using the terms/ concepts proposed by Barthes and discuss the role of text and its relationship with the image in the advertisement. Please include an image the advertisement in your post.

 

This advert by Nutella exemplifies Barthes’ methodology of the denoted and connoted meanings of the image.

On the surface, we see the act of a family breakfast session ‘glued’ together by having slices of toast with a spread of Nutella. We can infer how Nutella, ideally, brings people together.

The text provides a more metaphorical meaning – ‘a delight to spread on bread’ that synergizes well with the imagery as it not only brings people together but it provides that element of happiness. The sense of delight is elevated through sharing this short yet intimate moment of happiness.