Dr Michael Palmese has published a new article. Entitled ‘The World Ear Project (1970–87): Soundscapes, Politics, and the Genesis of Acoustic Ecology’ it is now available in the peer-reviewed journal Resonance: The Journal of Sound and Culture. Free eprints are available here.
This article presents an examination of the World Ear Project, a radio programme developed by Charles Amirkhanian and Richard Friedman in August 1970 in Berkeley, California. A sounding board for composers interested in exploring the possibilities of working with ambient soundscapes, it also offered a subtly political agenda that used the airwaves to challenge Cold War ideologies, compelling listeners to explore soundscapes beyond their shores and foster a global consciousness. The article concludes by suggesting that the World Ear Project reframes our understanding of the early history of acoustic ecology, taking an optimistic view of recording technology and the soundscapes of the modern, industrial world.