Sounds of the Pandemic

December 16th, 2020, Florence
International online Conference
University of Florence
CFP deadline: October 18th, 2020
Website

The outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic has had a strong impact on the sound of the places we live in, particularly as a consequence of the measures taken to stem the contagion. First of all, the lockdown and the suspension of most activities marking our everyday lives have produced a crucial drop in noise pollution, due to an almost total reduction of traffic: this has caused silence to emerge powerfully in the aural conscience of individuals. In the meanwhile, the lockdown has produced new sonic environments, putting in the foreground new aural experiences and acoustic elements that are usually covered by “noise”: on one hand, these include the case of musical flash mobs taking off in many countries (especially in Italy), and on the other the emergence of animal sounds in urban settings.

At the same time, many activities being transferred online has significantly changed our lifestyle, giving greater relevance to the Internet as the primary environment for music production and consumption, and more broadly as Sounds of the Pandemic a receptacle and vector of sonic accounts of the lockdown experience: from live streaming “homemade” concerts, to field recordings collected in a variety of online projects and sound maps.

Moreover, new aural conditions emerged once activities resumed, subject to restrictions due to the need to keep the health crisis under control. For many, lockdown silence is by now an odd memory, and traffic wraps most cities once again in its keynote: nonetheless, in many contexts, limitations are still enforced, especially in the world of the performing arts, sports and public education. Some sonic peculiarities are then to be found in the so-called “phases” after lockdown.

The conference aims to be a forum for sharing perspectives about sound in the time of pandemic, the modifications of sonic environments and the transformations in sound production/listening behaviors, not only in the musical field, but generally speaking in all human practices which are strongly characterized by sound. Both scholarly contributions and accounts by sound artists and cultural operators are welcome. Presentation of sound recordings is strongly encouraged, but not compulsory.

The conference is part of Come suona la Toscana, a project by Università di Firenze led by Prof. Maurizio Agamennone, in the framework of the PRIN 2017 initiative “Heritage, Festivals, Archives. Music and performing practices of oral tradition in the XXI Century”.

A few starting points for reflection:

Has lockdown “leveled out” the distinctive sounds of the world’s cities? Does lockdown make all places sound the same? Or, on the contrary, does the suspension of activities cause sonic peculiarities to surface?

What kinds of emotional response has the modifications of sonic environments generated? For example, is it possible to interpret the spread of “high sonic density” flash mobs as a way to fight the anguish of silence?

Which are the features of musical creativity on the Internet as it flourished at every level, from amateur to professional practices, during lockdown? Is it possible to foresee long-lasting transformations in expressive, listening and consumption habits? What kind of impact are social distancing measures having in the gradual reopening of theaters and concert halls, and, in general, in the cautious restart of live musical practices? How can the challenges entailed by these measures be turned into new opportunities?

Practical info

The conference will be held entirely online. The web platform will be communicated in due time.

Talks must be strictly between 15 and 20 minutes long, including time for presentation of sound recordings or multimedia content.

General updates will be provided on the web page of the conference and on the Facebook page of the project “Come suona la Toscana”.

How to submit a proposal

Talks in English, Italian or French are accepted.

You can submit a proposal by sending a 250-word abstract.

The deadline for submitting your proposal is October 18th, 2020.

Proposals must include the following information:
– Title of the talk
– Name
– Affiliation (if applicable)
– Contact details
– Short CV (150 words maximum)
– Indication of possible sound recordings or multimedia content to be presented

Please send your proposal to Dr. Daniele Palma (daniele.palma@unifi.it)

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Dimanche 4 Juillet, 2021