Karin Bijsterveld
MECHANICAL SOUND: Technology, Culture and Public Problems of Noise in the Twentieth Century
Karin Bijsterveld's Mechanical
Sound is fast becoming a classic in the field of sound studies. It
successfully disentangles the complexities of our current attitudes and
approaches to noise and its mitigation by showing how they have developed
through an historical process of interaction between governments, scientists,
campaigners, artists and musicians. To do this, Bijsterveld focuses on six key
issues in the history of noise: how noise has been presented and
"dramatised" ; the impact of industrial noise ; the ways in which
traffic noise was regarded as an example of uncivilised conduct in the early
20th century ; the use of mechanical sounds in music ; neighbour noise, and how
gramophones and radios redefined the domestic soundscapes of the early 20th
century ; the clash between different national attitudes to noise, and the difficulties
this clash caused for those attempting to parameterise aircraft noise. Though
the book presents a plethora of academic research and discussion, which is
firmly supported by numerous quotes and detailed references, it is nevertheless
quite readable (though, being densely written and quite technical, it's a book
that requires concentration!) and even entertaining. The inclusion of numerous period
anti-noise posters and cartoons, and several poems, assists greatly in this
respect. All those who work in the field of sound studies should find this book
of value. For the non-specialist in the field, it is a very useful introduction
to just what that field is about, and it should be of interest too to noise
campaigners and consultants, acousticians, historians and musicians.
Mike Goldsmith, 11th December 2014
Mike Goldsmith, 11th December 2014