Småland Acoustemology

Text: Heikki Uimonen

Steven Feld was interviewed by Tom Rice in the article “Questioning Acoustemology”. A highly recommended read on acoustemology, culture and individuals’ specific ways of relating to the sensory environment. Their discussion provided food for thought for the SOMECO pre-fieldwork reflections that took place online at the end of 2014: how anthropologists of sound and in sound relate to their field, and what their presuppositions are when preparing for the work.  

The article raises a profound question: to what extent can acoustemology be independent of culture? Obviously this has to do with the sensory ways of knowing that are fundamental to human learning, and with philosophical and anthropological discussions of how people “encounter the world and make it their world”. It is also about individuals and their personal tastes and acquired associations with sounds, their personal acoustemologies. 

The former town clerk of Dollar, Mr David Graham’s interviews are truly exceptional. Both the FVS and AEinC teams in 1975 and 2000, were privileged to enjoy his exceptional memory and knowledge of the sensory environment and the verbal skills to narrate it.

Personal acoustemologies are parallel to the concepts of soundscape competence and specific competences that were discussed before going out into the field. We thought a lot about how to inquire participants about their sonic environments. One way was to ask about sounds that are present not only in their everyday lives, but also in their professions. We believe that Dr Anne Tarvainen achieved a good deal of this when we conducted interviews at the Skruf glass factory on Monday 10th.

“Questioning Acoustemology” also deals with issues of difference: difference of age, difference of gender and so on. This has been quite fascinating for us here at Skruv, and has led to questions about differences in research interests, the formulation of knowledge in general, and how this is reflected in our specific scientific interests.

An example: Someco research focuses on media use, the human voice and the Anthropocene. In addition, Dr Ahlsved’s earlier interest in sports-related sonic environments has illuminated our knowledge of the Skruv community from a new perspective compared to those mentioned: we have learned how the sports club and their activities bring life to the community. Apparently, this is a matter of epistemology and how our experiences – professional and personal – are intertwined and how they guide our perception while doing fieldwork.

Finally, the acoustemological questions lead to a constant reflection on the part of the anthropologist and ethnomusicologist: how their presence and the questions they ask seem to change the thinking of those who choose to participate in the study – at least for the time the researchers are visiting their community.

References: 

Rice, Time & Feld, Steven. 2020. “Questioning Acoustemology: an interview with Steven Feld” in Sound Studies.

Truax, Barry. 2000. Acoustic Communication.