After listening to the two clips of Radiolab’s Jad Abumrad and Moon Graffiti by the Truth Podcast, I now have a new perspective on how audio drives stories.
Jad Abumrad did a great job in explaining the role of audio in our daily lives. Although many people say that radio is dead or dying, Abumrad argues that this will never be the case. Unlike other forms of media, audio and specifically radio provides a listener with a type of contact where it seems as though the reporter or host is speaking directly to the listener. This connection makes audio and radio appealing to everyone, because it is likely comforting to any kind of listener to hear someone speaking directly to them (even if it is indirect in reality).
Also, radio and audio media is available to people even if they don’t have the ability to consume text media through educational limits or due to a disability.
When listening to Moon Graffiti, the thing that stood out to me the most was the ability for the creator to mash together different sounds and audios. The overlapping sounds of the astronauts on the radio, the astronauts talking to each other, and the operators were mashed together. This blend of sounds and perspectives allows the listener to feel like they’re right in the middle of the action in live time, another reason why audio media is so appealing.
The various aspects and endless possibilities of audio storytelling makes it appealing to the audience. It creates an engaging atmosphere, and it feels as though the author/speaker is telling the story directly to you.
One Reply to “A Reflection on Audio Storytelling”