The Sound of Sport
Monday, May 2nd, 2011 This documentary on Radio 4 is about the significance of sound in our experience of sport. Amazing to hear how many microphones they use for televised sports events mixing the sounds of the crowds, verbal dialogue, the physical actions, equipment and elements. Isolating and layering the individual sounds brings a sense of intimacy with the sports person and increases the sense of drama and excitement.
Dennis Baxter will design the sound of the Olympics and he says he will be using 4000 mics for the event. I’m going to listen more carefully now.
Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art
Friday, April 16th, 2010
Two new BBC Four series and exhibition at the British Library look at the cultural importance of maps. They are much more than graphic representations of reality; they provide a snapshot of a cultural moment, actively shaping history and revolutionising the way we see the world.
I think the series The Art of Maps and Maps: Power, Plunder and Possession, starting on Sunday, will be really interesting and many of the British Library maps have never been exhibited before. They say that the invention and use of GPS reflects the way we see ourselves today.