Towards a definition of sound as vibrant matter
Date
2016
Authors
Orecchia, Joao Renato
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Abstract
This dissertation explores different but related philosophies of material agency - the
idea that all matter, human or non-human, carries some kind of agency: a capacity to affect
and to be affected, the potential sociopolitical implications of such a viewpoint and the
potential of sound art to explore these ideas in an experiential way. I discuss and draw
connections between three materialist philosophies: the New Materialism of Gilles
Deleuze, Felix Guatarri, Brian Massumi and others, the Vibrant Materialism of Jane
Bennett and the Sonic Materialism of Christoph Cox, Steve Goodman, Salomé Voegelin
and others. These materialist philosophies understand bodies not as static or complete, but
in a constant state of flux, never fully formed but continuously form-ing; always in relation
to and affected by the ongoing formation of other material bodies. Advocating the
decentralisation of human experience, Vibrant Materialism takes into account material
processes beyond the intentions or interventions of humans. Sonic Materialism
understands sound as an exemplary illustration of affective matter in flux: always present,
always moving, always in flux and always affecting and affected by everything it comes
into contact with. As a case study, the collected works of a sound artist named Eleh show
how these ideas can be implemented in practice. The research finally culminated in an
exhibition of installations exploring the potential of sound to move, to act, to change, to
affect and to be affected, towards a definition of sound as vibrant matter.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, in partial fulfilment of the degree of Master of Arts in Digital Arts,University of the Witwatersrand, 2016
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Citation
Orecchia, Joao Renato (2016) Towards a definition of sound as vibrant matter, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, < http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/22224>