Sound Studies in Literature

Sound Studies: Term and Concept

Etymology of Sound Studies

The term “Sound Studies” has emerged as a distinct field of inquiry in the humanities, focusing on the cultural, historical, and theoretical dimensions of sound. Rooted in the broader disciplines of musicology, anthropology, and media studies, the etymology of “Sound Studies” reflects an interdisciplinary approach to understanding sound beyond mere auditory perception. The word “sound” itself originates from the Old English “sund,” meaning “a noise, a sound,” which is related to the Proto-Germanic “sundaz” and the Proto-Indo-European root “swonos.” This etymological lineage emphasizes the primordial and universal nature of sound as a fundamental human experience. The addition of “studies” signifies a systematic investigation and scholarly endeavor, indicating that Sound Studies encompass not only the analysis of sound as a physical phenomenon but also its impact on society, culture, and individual consciousness. This evolving academic field thus aims to bridge the gap between the scientific and the humanistic perspectives on sound, offering a comprehensive understanding of its multifaceted role in human life.

Concept in Literature

Concept	Details
Sound as a Narrative Device	Sound is used to enhance storytelling, create atmosphere, and convey emotions. Example: The use of sound in James Joyce’s “Ulysses.”
Soundscapes in Fiction	The depiction of auditory environments to build immersive worlds. Example: The detailed soundscape in William Faulkner’s “The Sound and the Fury.”
Acoustic Ecology	Exploration of the relationship between characters and their sonic environment. Example: The sounds of nature in Virginia Woolf’s “The Waves.”
Phonocentrism vs. Logocentrism	The debate over the primacy of spoken versus written word. Example: Jacques Derrida’s critique in “Of Grammatology.”
Sonic Symbolism	Use of sound to symbolize themes and motifs. Example: The recurring motif of bells in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude.”
Voice and Identity	Representation of voice as a marker of identity and power. Example: The distinct narrative voices in Toni Morrison’s “Beloved.”
Sound and Memory	The role of sound in triggering and preserving memories. Example: The evocative sounds in Marcel Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time.”
Audiotexts	Texts that incorporate audio elements or are designed to be read aloud. Example: The performance aspect of Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl.”
Technological Mediation	The influence of sound recording and reproduction technologies on literature. Example: The impact of the phonograph in Thomas Pynchon’s “Vineland.”

Sound Studies: Theorists, Works and Arguments

Sound Studies: Key Principals

Principle	Explanation	Literary Example
Soundscape	The holistic sonic environment, encompassing both natural and human-made sounds.	In Ulysses, the “Wandering Rocks” episode captures the cacophony of Dublin’s streets, blending voices, horse hooves, and the ambient hum of the city into a vibrant sonic tapestry.
Acoustic Ecology	The study of the relationship between living beings (including humans) and their sonic environment. Emphasizes the interconnectedness of sound, ecology, and well-being.	Silent Spring highlights the ecological consequences of pesticide use, including the silencing of birdsong, demonstrating the profound impact of sound on the environment.
Audio-Vision	The interplay between sound and image in media like film and television. Sound can complement, contradict, or even transcend the visual elements of a narrative.	In Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, the screeching violins in the shower scene heighten the horror and suspense beyond what the visuals alone could convey, showcasing the power of audio-visual synergy.
Sonic Warfare	The use of sound as a weapon or tool of control, encompassing everything from psychological torture to military sonic booms.	In 1984, the Thought Police use constant surveillance and propaganda broadcasts to create a sonic environment of fear and paranoia, demonstrating sound’s potential for manipulation and oppression.
Deep Listening	A practice of attentive listening that involves both focused attention on external sounds and internal awareness. Promotes a holistic experience of sound and its impact on the listener’s physical, emotional, and mental state.	In Siddhartha, the protagonist learns the art of deep listening from the river, gaining wisdom and enlightenment through attentive engagement with the natural world’s sonic expressions.
Sonic Branding	The use of sound to create a unique identity for a brand or product. This can involve jingles, sonic logos, or even a specific soundscape associated with a brand’s image.	The Intel “Bong” is a prime example of sonic branding, as the five-note chime has become instantly recognizable and synonymous with the company’s technological innovation.
Bioacoustics	The study of the sounds produced by animals and their role in communication, navigation, and survival.	In Moby Dick, descriptions of whale songs highlight the importance of bioacoustics in understanding marine life and the complex communication systems of animals.
Acoustic Ecology	The study of the relationship between living beings (including humans) and their sonic environment. Emphasizes the interconnectedness of sound, ecology, and well-being.	White Noise explores the anxieties of modern life through a constant barrage of media sounds, consumerism, and technological noise, illustrating the impact of our sonic environment on mental and emotional well-being.

Sound Studies and Literary Theories

1. Interdisciplinary Approaches:
   • Sound Studies integrates concepts from musicology, anthropology, media studies, and cultural studies, enriching literary analysis by providing a multi-sensory perspective.
   • It emphasizes the auditory dimension of texts, exploring how sound and silence contribute to narrative structure, character development, and thematic depth.
2. Narrative Techniques:
   • Examines how authors use sound as a narrative device, including dialogue, internal monologue, and environmental sounds to create mood and atmosphere.
   • Investigates the role of soundscapes in fiction, understanding how sonic environments shape the reader’s experience and perception of the narrative world.
3. Cultural and Historical Contexts:
   • Analyzes how historical and cultural contexts influence the representation of sound in literature, reflecting societal attitudes towards noise, silence, music, and orality.
   • Explores the relationship between sound and power, identity, and resistance, particularly in postcolonial and feminist literary theories.
4. Technological Impact:
   • Investigates the impact of sound recording and reproduction technologies on literature, such as the influence of the phonograph, radio, and digital media.
   • Examines how these technologies have changed the way literature is produced, consumed, and interpreted, leading to new forms of audiotexts and performance literature.
5. Phonocentrism and Logocentrism:
   • Engages with the philosophical debates surrounding phonocentrism (the privileging of speech over writing) and logocentrism (the privileging of written text), particularly in the works of theorists like Jacques Derrida.
   • Explores how literature negotiates these tensions, using sound to challenge traditional hierarchies of meaning and representation.
6. Memory and Temporality:
   • Studies the relationship between sound, memory, and temporality in literature, understanding how auditory experiences evoke past events and shape narrative time.
   • Analyzes the use of sound motifs and acoustic memory in creating connections between different temporal layers of a narrative.
7. Embodiment and Subjectivity:
   • Investigates how sound contributes to the embodied experience of reading, influencing the reader’s sensory engagement with the text.
   • Explores the role of voice and vocalization in constructing subjectivity and agency, particularly in marginalized and subaltern voices.

Examples in Literary Theories

1. Postcolonial Theory:
   • Analyzes how colonial and postcolonial texts use sound to represent cultural hybridity, resistance, and identity formation.
   • Example: Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” uses traditional Igbo songs and oral storytelling to highlight cultural resilience.
2. Feminist Theory:
   • Examines the representation of women’s voices and the politics of silence in literature, challenging patriarchal structures.
   • Example: Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” explores the suppression and subversion of female voices in a dystopian society.
3. Psychoanalytic Theory:
   • Investigates the unconscious dimensions of sound in literature, such as the auditory hallucinations and acousmatic sounds that reveal hidden desires and fears.
   • Example: The eerie soundscapes in Edgar Allan Poe’s works reflect the psychological turmoil of his characters.
4. Ecocriticism:
   • Explores the relationship between sound and the natural environment, highlighting ecological awareness and the impact of human activity on natural soundscapes.
   • Example: Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden” presents detailed descriptions of natural sounds, fostering a deep connection with the environment.

Sound Studies: Criticism Against It

• Western-centric Focus: Early sound studies scholarship was predominantly focused on Western perspectives, neglecting the diverse sonic practices and cultural understandings of sound found in non-Western societies.
• Overemphasis on Technology: Some critics argue that sound studies has overly emphasized the role of technology in shaping sonic experiences, neglecting the social, cultural, and political dimensions of sound.
• Neglect of Embodied Experience: Sound studies has been criticized for not adequately addressing the embodied experience of sound, including the physical and emotional responses to sound that are shaped by individual bodies and identities.
• Lack of Intersectionality: Critics argue that sound studies has not fully embraced an intersectional approach, failing to adequately consider how sound interacts with issues of race, gender, class, and other social categories.
• Theoretical Obscurity: Some critics find sound studies scholarship to be overly theoretical and jargon-laden, making it inaccessible to broader audiences and limiting its practical applications.
• Limited Scope: Despite its interdisciplinary nature, sound studies has been criticized for having a limited scope, neglecting certain areas of sonic inquiry, such as the study of music and the relationship between sound and language.
• Overemphasis on the Negative: Some critics argue that sound studies has focused too much on negative aspects of sound, such as noise pollution and sonic warfare, neglecting the positive and therapeutic uses of sound.

Sound Studies: Key Terms

Term	Definition
Acousmatic Sound	Sound that is heard without an identifiable source, creating a sense of mystery or ambiguity.
Soundscape	The acoustic environment as perceived by humans, including natural, human, and technological sounds.
Phonocentrism	The privileging of spoken language over written text in cultural and philosophical contexts.
Acoustic Ecology	The study of the relationship between living beings and their sonic environment.
Sonic Boom	A sudden and powerful sound effect used to signify a dramatic or impactful event.
Auditory Icon	A sound that is easily recognizable and conveys a specific meaning or context.
Audiotexts	Literary works designed to be performed or consumed through listening rather than reading.
Voice	The use of spoken language in literature, emphasizing individuality, identity, and expression.
Silence	The intentional use of absence of sound to create meaning, tension, or highlight particular moments.
Echo	The reflection of sound, often used in literature to symbolize memory, repetition, or haunting presence.

Sound Studies: Suggested Readings

• Chion, Michel. Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen. Translated by Claudia Gorbman, Columbia University Press, 1994.
• Goodman, Steve. Sonic Warfare: Sound, Affect, and the Ecology of Fear. MIT Press, 2010.
• LaBelle, Brandon. Acoustic Territories: Sound Culture and Everyday Life. Continuum, 2010.
• Oliveros, Pauline. Deep Listening: A Composer’s Sound Practice. Deep Listening Publications, 2005.
• Schafer, R. Murray. The Tuning of the World. Knopf, 1977.
• Sterne, Jonathan. The Audible Past: Cultural Origins of Sound Reproduction. Duke University Press, 2003.
• Thompson, Emily. The Soundscape of Modernity: Architectural Acoustics and the Culture of Listening in America, 1900-1933. MIT Press, 2002.
• Voegelin, Salomé. Listening to Noise and Silence: Towards a Philosophy of Sound Art. Continuum, 2010.

Relevant Organizations & Publications

• The World Forum for Acoustic Ecology (WFAE): https://wfae.net/
• The Journal of Sonic Studies: https://sonicstudies.org/
• Sound Studies Lab: https://soundstudieslab.org/