The Chinese Theater in Göttingen will host a workshop on the sound topography of Göttingen (SOTO-Gö) in September 2020. The “sound” refers to sounds gathered in the city of Göttingen. “Topography” originally means the description of a place, and it applies to maps in a broad sense here. The workshop attends to sound sources existing in the world, both natural and man-made types. Participants will record sounds, segregate individual sound sources, and upload recordings with local geographical information onto a digital map. Through localizing sound sources in visual scenes, we will categorize the features of languages and sounds of Göttingen communities. We will learn the mechanisms of sound from phonation to auditory perception. We will also analyze how the sounds invoke memories, feelings, and specific circumstances to remind the listener of certain moods, which may lead to a positive attitude towards listening. We believe that exploring sounds by listening actively and consciously will contribute to transforming individuals into better practitioners for communities, as in the worlds of sound, “relational” and “collective self” are as important as the “individual self” for self-construction.
The workshop will first guide participants in enhancing their auditory perceptions through rhythmic movements. After this, participants will watch videos and read screenplays to understand the meanings and purposes of sound design in the theater. We will also analyze subtexts of a play in terms of its usage and effects, and observe how theatrical auditory elements are arranged by screenwriters and directors to explore expressions of certain values, faiths, and ideologies. The listening training will be followed by sound mapping with a focus on reflecting on relations between self and community. Other activities include deconstructing certain play scenes for new artistic presentations, such as reorganization, overlay, and collage techniques.
Throughout the process-oriented workshop, participants will collaborate with each other to find questions and complete tasks. In those practices, the workshop seeks not only to redefine the concepts of “dimension”, “live performance” and “virtuality and reality” in the field of drama arts but also, through organic interactions connecting individuals and communities, to go beyond the conventional perception of the relationship between drama and documentary aesthetics.
Partners:
B·O·N·D 2020 International Virtual Performance Festival
yingmingtheater.com 