Athens 2021: On the possibility of sonic monuments
What if monuments were made of sounds? How could practices and artefacts related to monumentality be formed when acoustic experience incites remembrance?
Members of akoo.o group discuss those questions as they elaborate on the notion of sonic monumentality, bringing together the material and symbolic aspects of sonic events with the politics of public space and of remembering. Fragments of critical discourse, excerpts of sound-art and musical pieces in public space, and voices of Athenian residents compose a diverse framework for imagining, designing, and proposing monumental sonic interventions in Athens, in 2021.
Featuring the voices of: Marianna Bafaloukou, Alexandra Bounia, Nana Dimakou, Eva Giannakopoulou, Dimitra Kondylatou, Panos Sklavenitis, Nontas Samantas, Telis Samantas, Michailangelos Vlassis-Ziakas, Konstantinos Voltas, Eleana Yalouri
Found Voices: Marshall McLuhan (from https://tinyurl.com/hrah9w8a), Victoria Wiley, from(https://youtu.be/i1T2OgPRXFQ) Annie Sprinkle (from https://youtu.be/z8BZd7IBr2Y), Krzysztof Wodiczko (fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vI703H5RSM), unnamed individual (from Krzysztof Wodiczko’s Monument for the Living, ibid.)
References
Attali, Jacques (1977), Bruits: essai sur l’economie politique de la musique, Presses Universitaires de France
Augoyard, Jean-Francois and Henry Torgue (eds.), Sonic Experience – a guide to everyday sounds, Translated by Andra McCartney and David PaquetteMcGill-Queen’s University Press | Montreal & Kingston | London | Ithaca
Bellentani, Feredico and Mario Panico, (2016), The meanings of monuments and memorials: toward a semiotic approach, Punctum, 2(1): 28-46
Μπούνια, Αλεξάνδρα (2017), «Η ‘μουσειοποίηση’ της πόλης: ο επαναπροσδιορισμός του μουσείου και οι αναζητήσεις του μνημειακού», στο Γαλανίδου, Νένα (επιμ.), Δημόσια Αρχαιολογία (υπό έκδοση)
Bubaris, Nikos (2012), Sound Studies and Cultural Theory: a favorable juncture, in Sabine Breitsameter & Claudia Soller-Eckert [eds.], Proceedings of The Global Composition, 25-28/7/2012, MediaCampus Dieburg, Hochschule Darmstadt, 115-122.
Βρακατσέλλη, Ανδρομάχη (2019), Ηχητική Τέχνη και Εκθεσιακός Σχεδιασμός. Αδημοσίευτη Διδακτορική Διατριβή. Τμήμα Πολιτισμικής Τεχνολογίας και Επικοινωνίας, Πανεπιστήμιο Αιγαίου.
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Πλάτωνας (2013), Πλατωνος – Φαίδρος, Θεοδωρακόπουλος, Ι. (transl.), Βιβλιοπωλείον της “Εστίας” | Αθήνα
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Tracklist:
Arseny Avraamov, Symphony of the Sirenes (excerpt)
Bill Fontana, Harmonic Bridge (excerpt)
John Cage, As Slow As Possible (excerpt)
Lucky People Center, Lucky People Center International, (dir. Johan Soderberg and Erik Pauser, 1999) (excerpt)
Jim Wilson, God’s Chorus of Crickets (excerpt)
akoo.o: Gentle Reminder (witten, arranged and composed: Dana Papachristou)
akoo.o: TMTM / Oracle2 (written, compiled and composed: Nikos Bubaris)
akoo.o: Stadiou Cancellation (written, designed and composed: Yorgos Samantas)