Sound exists in the physical world without our existence, without us labeling and categorizing it. But we do bring it greater definition with our labels and categorizations - And, if you've ever had the pleasure of owning an electric guitar and high end amplifier or have been in a recording studio, then the appreciation of manipulating sound as art work is known (what a pleasure indeed).
What is not known or, at least, elaborated upon or explored is the sound in our heads.
In fact, this essay could easily be titled: "The Sounds in Our Heads" but then there may be a negative connotation connected with it and people may perceive it differently just because of that title. In addition, I just finished reading a book (The Living Theatre: Art, Exile, and Outrage) that I started this summer before heading to L.A. and I saved the last two chapters until yesterday. One of those chapters was called The Archaeology of Sleep which was a poem by Julian Beck which turned into a Living Theatre play before his death. Thus I thought the Archaelogy of Sound made for a good title here as opposed to "The Sounds in Our Heads" or even "The Sound of Reading."
The sound of reading. ...
It's amazing that when we look at words and read them that there is a voice in our heads that we hear. Is that voice typically our own voice? I've found that the voice is my own voice or, at least, the same voice I hear when I talk to myself or think thoughts in my head unless I am reading a play or book or something that requires a character change and I am familiar enough with the type of character to create an appropriate or exact voice.
When one reads something - one just does not look at the words and comprehend and digest them as images only. It's impossible. When reading something or even writing something (like I am now - this very minute) those words that are read or written are sounded out in our heads by some type of voice. Is this connected to our soul? Our is this voice just connected to our heads - our minds?
It's not just memory here that we hear like we do when singing a song in our heads that we're familiar with. For example, when I think about a song like Bad Company's "Feel Like Making Love" in my head I am familiar with that song enough to replay the song in a way where I remember its lyrics, the voice of the singer of the song, his inflections, the music, etc. My memory replays this song in my head at will - but while I'm typing this - these words are in my voice and Bad Company's "Feel Like Making Love" just plays off in a distant region of my head like background music to my own voice in narration.
Even when I sit back and think about what I am going to write, I hear my own voice speaking the words - sounding them out as I would speak them aloud.
However, when we view a piece of art work (like a painting) in a museum we can view and interpret it without sounds in our head. We can visually take in a painting and its meaning and let it touch us without talking to ourselves about it or hearing what our Art History professor from Marquette University (the year I spent there before transferring into Penn State University's Happy Valley campus) would say in his voice. Of course, it may help some people translate a painting's meaning if they do talk to themselves about it, or hear in their heads what some one else may have to say about it for them to help better understand it and form an opinion.
The other afternoon while at a museum and viewing the complex, highly skilled and creative work of Giovanni Battista Piranesi I scanned and stared and marvelled at the pieces with my eyes and soul. I interpreted, translated and felt these images without necessarily using words and a voice in my head. Yes, at times, I may have spoken to myself or listened to my fascinated wife or general passersby - but, on whole, I solely only viewed the displayed images of Giovanni Battista Piranesi with my sponge like eyes and soul. Sure, they may have invoked feelings and emotions and other related images but, again, that was done without words and me hearing those words in my head.
Today when my wife and I visit the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania I will take-in the work while walking around and play this out again.
I do like to also read about artists when at a museum. And there are words read in my own voice or that of my wife or a narrator that the museum may use with the use of headphones or a tour guide. But yet again unless it's an "interactive" piece or a "new media art" piece using sound or sounds then I usually take-in a piece of art via visual stimulation = with sponge like eyes.
Try this for yourself.
Best of New Year Roses,
John French
mystrawhat.com
http://theneweverydaymedia.blogspot.com
P.S. I have not edited this work and it is a first draft so I apologize for that - I may come back to this and edit it later (as I oft do)
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Tournament of Roses: A World of New Beginnings ...
2 days ago: PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: 2009 Tournament of Roses Queen Courtney Lee (in white) rides in the 120th Tournament of Roses Parade January 1, 2009 in Pasadena, California.
2 days ago: PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: The Honda robot float "Asimo" appears in the 120th Tournament of Roses Parade January 1, 2009 in Pasadena, California.
2 days ago: Rain Bird was awarded the Tournament of Roses Sweepstakes Trophy today in recognition of its 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade entry, Entertaining Expedition. Awarded to the float entry deemed the most beautiful by a panel of expert judges, the 2009 Sweepstakes Trophy win marks the 12th time in 13 years that Rain Bird has been awarded for its Rose Parade float entry, and the second consecutive year (eighth overall) in which the company has won the parade's top honor.
"Space Rose" --- An encapsulated rose officially named after the Tournament of Roses, which flew on NASA's space shuttle Atlantis in Feb. 2008, is displayed at the Bayer, Garden of Oz Float in Pasadena, Calif. "Hats off to Entertainment" on New Years day. Rose Parade starts the new year with a rosy outlook
Los Angeles Times: By Jessica Garrison and Cara Mia DiMassa January 2, 2009
The 120-year-old Rose Parade ushered in the new year on a sun-kissed morning in Pasadena with a much-needed injection of optimism and celebration, a powerful antidote in a time of economic turmoil.
The theme of the 2009 parade was "Hats off to Entertainment," and many of the floral entries celebrated the gleeful distractions of escaping to the movies, the theater, the playground and the great outdoors, among other destinations.
Take the pink-clad breast cancer survivors who waved madly, smiling with joy, as their "Hope Grows" float rounded the corner of Orange Grove and Colorado boulevards. Many said their float -- a lush garden scene that also highlighted handbag designer Vera Bradley's new line -- represented their hope that they will triumph over the disease, and that 2009 will be a better year for the country.
"It's a new beginning," said cancer survivor Joan Lang, a 67-year-old nurse from Pasadena.
Judy Stoddard made the trip to Pasadena from her home in Lincoln, near Sacramento, after decades of watching the parade on television. She and her husband, Michael, were sitting along Colorado Boulevard.
"I'm feeling positive," she said. "It's going to be a great 2009!"
Best of New Year Roses,
John mystrawhat.com
http://theneweverydaymedia.blogspot.com
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2008 Into 2009: Penetrating Time
Pope Benedict XVI visits the nativity scene after celebrating a New Year's Eve vespers service, at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008. Pope Benedict XVI is calling for "sobriety and solidarity" in 2009 as the world struggles with economic and social woes. His appeal was made amid the splendor of St. Peter's Basilica during a New Year's Eve vespers service on Wednesday. Benedict described these times as being "marked by uncertainty and worry for the future."
France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, seen in this video grab from France2 television, delivers his recorded New Year's Eve speech to the Nation from the Elysee Palace in Paris, December 31, 2008.
Taylor Swift performs during the New Year's Eve festivities in Times Square, New York, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.
In this hand out photo released by the Imperial Household Agency, Japan's Empress Michiko, center, lifts up her grandson Prince Hisahito in her arms as Emperor Akihito, center left, looks on during the annual official photo session for the new year at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Friday, Dec. 12, 2008. Also pictured are Crown Princess Masako, from left, Crown Prince Naruhito, Princess Aiko, Princess Kako, Princess Mako, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko.
Calgary Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff reacts to an Edmonton Oiler goal during the second period of his NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta, December 31, 2008.
LSU running back Charles Scott (32) runs for yardage past a lunging Georgia Tech defense end Michael Johnson in the second half of NCAA football's Chick-Fil-A Bowl, in Atlanta, Georgia, December 31, 2008.
A reveler stands in Times Square during the New Year's Eve celebration in New York December 31, 2008.
5 hours ago
Fireworks explode over Copacabana beach during celebrations of the New Year in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Jan. 01, 2009.
In this handout photo released by the Office of the President, Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, right, and Vice President Vincent Siew salute during the new year's flag-raising ceremony, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, in Taipei, Taiwan.
Part of 2,700 swimmers take part in the New Year's Day Winter Swimming Gala to celebrate the coming of 2009 at a beach in Hong Kong January 1, 2009.
Lifeguards watch on from kayaks while part of 2,700 swimmers take part in the New Year's Day Winter Swimming Gala to celebrate the coming of 2009 at a beach in Hong Kong January 1, 2009.
Fireworks explode during a pyrotechnic show to celebrate the New Year in the coastal city of Vina del Mar, about 75 miles (120 km) northwest of Santiago January 1, 2009.
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during a pyrotechnics show to celebrate the New Year January 1, 2009. Known for its choreographed and themed fireworks displays, this year's show, nicknamed "The Creation Storm", drew hundreds of thousands of people to the harbour foreshore to watch the spectacle.
Imagine there's no Heaven
Part of 2,700 swimmers take part in the New Year's Day Winter Swimming Gala to celebrate the coming of 2009 at a beach in Hong Kong January 1, 2009.
Lifeguards watch on from kayaks while part of 2,700 swimmers take part in the New Year's Day Winter Swimming Gala to celebrate the coming of 2009 at a beach in Hong Kong January 1, 2009.
Fireworks explode during a pyrotechnic show to celebrate the New Year in the coastal city of Vina del Mar, about 75 miles (120 km) northwest of Santiago January 1, 2009.
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during a pyrotechnics show to celebrate the New Year January 1, 2009. Known for its choreographed and themed fireworks displays, this year's show, nicknamed "The Creation Storm", drew hundreds of thousands of people to the harbour foreshore to watch the spectacle.
Best of New Year Roses,
Giovanni French
mystrawhat.com
theneweverydaymedia
Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Why the Emails?! ...
--- On Wed, 12/31/08, John French; wrote: From: John French; |
Why I Want Remi Spencer to Help Me Sue Red Eye?!?!
--- On Wed, 12/31/08, John French ; wrote: From: John French; |
Monday, December 29, 2008
...Walking Into 2009...
John French = Photo: Wine Press 2008Best of Holiday Roses,
John Frenchmystrawhat.com
http://theneweverydaymedia.blogspot.com
myspace.com/mosshead7
Paris' Pink ...
Paris Hilton showed off her new and improved ride last Monday -- a hot pink Bentley Continental GT. Hopefully the same thieves that took $2 million worth of jewels from the heiress' home won't get their hands on this $200,000 coupe.
photo by Splash News -
The West Coast Customs team gave Paris' old Bentley a complete makeover, adding pink rims, monogrammed leather seats, a hood ornament boasting the initials "PH," and paparazzi-thwarting tinted windows.
photo by Splash News
OK, y'all may be sick of Paris Hilton in 2008 and have had enough in 2007 or 2006 - however, in 2009 I dig a new Paris Hilton and want her to have my "love child."
myspace.com/mosshead7
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