Blog Assignment #2: “What I Hear”

I decided to walk around the lower east side around 8pm on a weekday without my headphones and paying careful attention to the sounds that make up my environment. First thing I noticed was the constant sound of car engines and squeaking breaks, then as I walked into my local deli I noticed the bell noises the door makes as I entered and the sound of Spanish guys talking to each other at the register. Inside I noticed they had been playing some type of Latino music on low and the noise of the hum of the refrigerators in front of the counter. As I left the deli I walked towards Houston street were I noticed the loud sounds of construction, I could make out some type of hammering and what sounded like a large dumpster rolling down a large hill. I noticed the workers were sliding a huge metal plate over a hole they had dug using a large bulldozer and the noises the bulldozer made and it swung its claw up and down. After walking around for sometime I noticed how silent side streets were compared to the main streets, I would hear random dogs barking, all different kinds of music, people yelling and car doors slamming. One thing that really stuck out was how much more I was aware of my surrounding when I would purposeful listen to background noises. Usually I just blast my headphones and walk and never notice anything, now with listening I notice smaller minute details I had never paid attention to before. I always look around and make sure to be aware of my surroundings but during this exercise I noticed more when I just relaxed and listened. I found myself focused on the sounds of the city instead of thinking too much about other things.

Define A Space

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