Between sound and noise: Features of urban soundscapes formation

Authors

  • Daria A. Vasileva Independent Researcher
  • Daniil A. Lermontov  HSE University, 16, ul. Soyuza Pechatnikov, St Petersburg, 190008, Russian Federation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu12.2022.306

Abstract

Soundscapes of a city as a cultural-symbolic space mediating our perception of sounds and noises are dynamic, changeable and heterogeneous. The way of everyday life, cultural experience, audio-visual texts are consumed outline different trajectories of interaction with sonic environment and make the border between sound and noise quite fluid. This article presents ethnographic data, important for understanding the process of formation of urban soundscapes. The research of St Petersburg soundscapes was conducted by the authors in 2016–2021 demon strated the possibilities of using such methods as “sound diary” and “sound walk”. The article is based on the analysis of 380 hours of observations made by 38 citizens, data from 19 interviewswalks with people living in 15 different microdistricts are presented. As the results the article represents the specificity of sounds and noises categorization, as well as the role of sonic experience in the formation of patterns of interaction between St Petersburg citizens and the urban environment. The research provides tools for analysing the social and cultural superstructure of the perception of urban sounds and noises, which is possible be of interest to sociologists, urbanists, urban anthropologists, ecologists, and researchers of local communities.

Keywords:

urban soundscape, sound, noise, sonic imagination, cultural change

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References

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Published

2023-01-26

How to Cite

Vasileva, D. A., & Lermontov, D. A. (2023). Between sound and noise: Features of urban soundscapes formation. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Sociology, 15(3), 270–284. https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu12.2022.306

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 3 (2022): Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Sociology

Section

Sociology of Culture and Communications

License

Articles of "Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Sociology" are open access distributed under the terms of the License Agreement with Saint Petersburg State University, which permits to the authors unrestricted distribution and self-archiving free of charge.