Sound Portraits
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Soundportraits shows that voices can describe things as clearly as a photograph. This new sound photograph has its own beautiful side, such as the sound of the environment, people chatting, which makes us feel like we were there with them; however, the lack of visual images can also make soundportraits feel boring, dead, and theatrical. People know that the most effective media is the mix of audio and visual; so why bother? But this is not a regular audio-clip, this is something new that really interesting.
I was listening to the Ghetto 101, and it was surprisingly enjoyable for the first four minutes. After that, bang, it was boring. They want to share these stories that bring neglected American voices to a national audience, like most of the traditional portraits are. Maybe they are trying to convince the audiences by listening to the voice of the people, the neglected ones. It sounds sad, hard, et; however, the lack of visual elements failed to bring the audiences to get closer into it. Attention in another unique media, is what they seek. The new way to tell the audiences, this thing is “a new clever way to describe yourself”, which may only works for certain people.
On the Ghetto 101, they are talking basically about the neighborhood, they came into an NBA player and have a little chit-chat, these two boys are horribly stressful, their grandma has been on medications since 1977, their dad is alcoholic, worst neighborhood, etc. By looking to the photographs, we wouldnt have the feeling to be there, to listen to the crowds, somebodys curses, a child that asks his dad, “Why do you drinking?” and his dad responded, “Ill quit.” Then the child asks, “When?” then the conversations stops. Its a whole new experience for us.
How would they do that? How would they tell this whole nation about how bad their life is? Comes soundportraits, they record these sound clips, with two kids as the “stars” and let them do their everyday life. How they live, how they interact with their neighbors, how their parents tell them. They also tell us about their life, how hard it is, etc. Its obvious that they are trying to tell wider audience via different media. Thats it, from different media. No different from the photographs of war victims of Iraq, or the photographs and TVs report about the hurricane. This is just a different media. Thats it. The messages itself, its clear, even written in their website, “To tell wider national audiences (which photographs are able to do this) about this neglected people.” Ok, we listen to it then what? Some may donate money? Or maybe some contact soundportraits and ask if they can join? Its no different, nothing special in here, in my opinion. Wed talking about this new way of approached media after this. Still, its cool using this audio stuff as a “photographs”, but photographs are photographs,