“Sound–scape–“ Studies in Türkiye
Hasan Baran FıratThis paper aims to evaluate the concept of soundscape and the scientific and artistic fields that have developed around it on a national scale in Türkiye, which has had significant impacts on areas such as history, musicology, architecture, urban planning, and psychology. Attributed to R. Murray Schafer, the concept of soundscape has undergone various transformations since its emergence in the 1970s and found different meanings in various fields. However, the lack of institutional structure and scientific leadership regarding studies on sound in Türkiye has caused these transitions to occur without interaction and at times without knowledge of one another. Soundscapes, which can be read as a critique of the ocular-centric modern world, focuses on interpreting all kinds of objects and concepts through the perception of sound. Although Schafer is mostly cited as the father of the concept and its intellectual founder, tracing the origins of this awareness in the developments of different disciplines would be more fitting. This article aims to explore the ways in which the concept of soundscape has been studied in various fields, including their different approaches, parallelisms, and transitions. Drawing on the literature available in Turkish, this work provides a brief overview of the intellectual journey of the concept of soundscape in Türkiye.
Türkiye’de Ses –Manzarası– Çalışmaları
Hasan Baran FıratBu çalışma, tarih, müzikoloji, mimarlık, şehir planlama ve psikoloji gibi alanlarda önemli etkileri olan soundscape kavramını ve bu kavram etrafında gelişen bilimsel/sanatsal alanı ulusal ölçekte değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. R. Murray Schafer’a atfedilen soundscape kavramı, ortaya çıktığı 1970’li yıllardan bu yana çeşitli dönüşümler geçirmiş, çeşitli alanlarda farklı karşılıklar bulmuştur. Ancak Türkiye’de söz konusu çalışmaların kurumsal bir yapıdan ya da bilimsel bir öncülükten mahrum kalması, bu geçişlerin yer yer etkileşimlerden uzak ve birbirinden habersiz gerçekleşmesine neden olmuştur. Görsel merkezli modern dünyanın bir eleştirisi olarak okunabilecek ses manzarası, her türlü nesne ve kavramı ses algısı üzerinden anlamlandırmaya odaklanır. Her ne kadar Schafer kavramın babası veya entelektüel kurucusu olarak anılsa da sese yönelik bu farkındalığın köklerini paralel gelişen farklı disiplinlerde aramak daha doğru olacaktır. Bu makale, ses manzarası kavramının çeşitli alanlarda nasıl çalışıldığı, disiplinler arası farklı yaklaşımları, paralellikleri ve geçişleri keşfetmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Türkçe literatüre dayanan bu çalışma, soundscape kavramının Türkiye’deki entelektüel yolculuğuna kısa bir bakış sunmaktadır.
This study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the concept of soundscape and its development within scientific and artistic fields in Türkiye. Attributed to R. Murray Schafer (1977), the notion of the soundscape has undergone diverse transformations since its emergence in the 1970s and found varied interpretations and applications across disciplines such as history, musicology, architecture, urban planning, and psychology. However, studies on sound in Türkiye have encountered challenges due to the absence of institutional structures and scientific leadership, resulting in fragmented interactions and limited awareness of these conceptual developments. This article focuses on the historical background of sound studies, the multifaceted approaches to the soundscape in different disciplinary contexts, and the complexities stemming from the translation and interpretation of this concept.
The historical background of sound studies reveals the evolution of sensory practices and objects in diverse cultural contexts throughout history. For example, ancient Greek philosophy bestowed privileged status upon vision as the noblest sense, relegating other senses to secondary positions. Nevertheless, paradigm shifts have occurred regarding the emphasis placed on various senses during different historical periods. For instance, the Renaissance witnessed a heightened recognition of touch alongside the rise of humanism and materialism, leading to a renewed appreciation for the significance of tactile experiences. These historical developments laid the groundwork for a deeper understanding of sound and its profound influence on human perception and the environment.
The soundscape has been explored and developed within different disciplinary frameworks, each contributing distinctive perspectives. In the realm of architecture, the field of architectural acoustics (i.e., acoustic engineering) scrutinizes the acoustic environments created by human interventions. This field encompasses the domains of noise control and room acoustics, which investigate the acoustic properties of architectural spaces. In recent years, advancements in computational capabilities have facilitated the creation of software programs that enable acoustic simulation, providing virtual platforms for replicating sound within various environments. Within the Turkish context, a limited group of researchers have dedicated efforts to the development of such software, which is now extensively employed by architects and acoustic experts (Öziş ve ark., 2004).
Within the field of musicology, subdisciplines such as ethnomusicology, historical musicology, urban musicology, and contemporary music deal with the topics of soundscape. The domain of art, particularly composition and contemporary music, engages with soundscape as a means of investigating the sonic dimensions of different settings and integrating them into creative processes. Artists employ soundscapes as a tool for exploring the auditory qualities of various environments, fostering collaborations among musicians, artists, and researchers, thereby yielding innovative sonic expressions and novel perspectives on the world.
Psychology has assumed a significant role in comprehending the perception and interpretation of sound. Research conducted within the fields of sensation and perception, as well as psychoacoustics, has provided valuable insights into how humans perceive and process auditory information (Şengül-İnal ve Sümer, 2018). Soundscape studies in psychology explore the psychological and cognitive aspects of sound perception, illuminating the influence of sound on emotions, well-being, and spatial awareness (Can ve Ozcevik, 2008; Çakır ve İlal, 2017; Özçiftçi ve ark., 2021).
The field of history has also encompassed soundscape studies through investigations into the history of senses, sound history, and anthropology. By examining historical sources and cultural practices, researchers can reconstruct the sonic landscapes of different time periods and societies, thereby shedding light on the cultural significance of sound and its role in shaping human experiences.
In conclusion, this study presents an interdisciplinary assessment of soundscapes within the Turkish context by encompassing the historical backdrop of sound studies, the diverse disciplinary approaches to soundscape analysis, and the complexities arising from the translation and interpretation of this concept. By highlighting the paramount importance of sound and its pervasive impact on various facets of human life, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse on the significance of soundscapes and their potential applications within academic, artistic, and professional domains. The integration of the soundscape into these fields fosters a deeper understanding of the auditory dimensions of the built environment, the cultural significance of sound, and the ways in which sound shapes human experiences. The interdisciplinary nature of soundscape studies allows for fruitful collaborations and knowledge exchange between researchers, artists, architects, musicians, psychologists, and historians, promoting a holistic approach to the study of sound. Moving forward, further developing the institutional frameworks and scientific leadership within sound studies in Türkiye is imperative for nurturing an inclusive and collaborative environment for research, artistic expression, and societal engagement. By doing so, the transformative power of sound can be harnessed and innovative approaches can be fostered to enhance the sonic qualities of human environments, ultimately leading to improved well-being and a richer understanding of the surrounding world.