Respond to What We Hear

¶ … recordings was "Premature Burial" for various reasons. The main reason, which is related to various other elements, is the feeling of horror it gave me when I finished listening. The first thing that struck me was the title. This prepares the listener for what is to come, and is the first indicator of the radio space to be created. The sound is effective precisely because it is minimalistic. The hearer understands exactly what is going on at all times. The sounds of the burial are dark, intense, and grim. The hearer can almost see the pale grave digger with his black coat and hat. The silence after the digging sounds is the most effective of the whole recording. It fills the hearer with anticipation. In a visual medium, this would probably be presented as a slow descent into the ground to end on the figure and face of the victim. The space created by the silence is perfect for its duration. What follows is horrific. It is difficult to say which of the effects are the most horrifying; the almost animalistic terror voiced by the victim as he realizes where he is, his heartbeat, or the final, almost calm acceptance that this is his fate and it cannot be changed. It is a very well done recording. It is my favorite.

It would probably be quite easy to put "premature burial" on film in terms of visual presentation. However, for a film or even a shorter piece, it would not be possible to use only the material presented in the recording. There would need to be some background and personality associated with the victim, since he is the main character. There could be some character development, for example, or some broken and mended relationships. A film would require more than the bare minimum provided in the recording. While this is in fact the element that makes the recording so effective, the same element in film would make the visual presentation flat and uninteresting.

The "Colonial War" recording is also entertaining, for quite different reasons. There are a large amount of sound effects that creates radio space for the listener. The sound of birds, for example, indicates the relatively undeveloped, rural nature of the environment, which is supported by the title of the piece. What is particularly striking about the various sound effects and the radio space they create is the dichotomies in the narration. The main dichotomy is between the European colonizers and the native tribe, which appears to be Native American. Other dichotomies include the differences in culture; the Americans depict distaste for what they perceive to be the monotonous noise of the Indian chanting. The character called "Skyler" considers it his "duty" to destroy the culture and heritage of the Native Americans. There are also dichotomies between nature and violence, where here is some uncertainty about the sound of thunder and the sound of bombs at the start of the recording. At the end, there is a weather report, which is followed by the sound of war planes.

This is probably the easiest piece to convert to film, as has been done many times and in various ways. The story line, visual effects, and other dramatic elements can all be taken almost as they are from the recording and be placed onto film.