Echoes in the capitol, echoes in history: architectural acoustics, media archaeology, and the infrapolitics of reverberation. Issue 2 (3rd July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Evans, T. Brandon
• Is Part Of: Sound studies. Volume 8:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 181
• Page End: 195
• Publication Date: 2022-07-03
• Subjects: Democracy -- architectural acoustics -- media archaeology -- history of sound -- reverberation -- infrapolitics; Sounds -- Periodicals; Sounds -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Sound (Philosophy) -- Periodicals; Sound in art -- Periodicals; Sound in mass media -- Periodicals; Sounds -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Listening -- Periodicals; 121.35
• DOI: 10.1080/20551940.2022.2058765
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-1940

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper explores the notion of infrapolitics as the political dimension of reverberation and architectural acoustics. This aim is approached through a media-archaeological counterreading of the history of poor acoustics in the former chamber of the US House of Representatives supplied by historian Emily Thompson, as well as through juxtaposition of other cases of reverberation envelopes from the history of architectural acoustics. A media archaeological approach to reverberation and architectural acoustics, it is argued, approaches infrapolitics as a speculative understanding of the effect of architectural acoustics on early American democracy, and of architectural acoustics on discourse in general.