In an article for OMNIA, Penn Arts & Sciences alumni magazine, writer Laura Dattaro highlights the contributions of Jim Sykes and Mary Channen Caldwell to the field of sound studies. Sykes, an associate professor in the Department of Music, explores sound's role in covert surveillance and cultural communication, including the concept of underwater listening stations. His research, reflected in the book Remapping Sound Studies, emphasizes a global perspective and the significance of sound in shaping cultural experiences, such as in post-war Sri Lanka. Caldwell, also an associate professor in the Department of Music, teaches "1,000 Years of Musical Listening," focusing on the educational power of sound by exposing students to diverse music history and addressing biases in traditional music education. Together, their work highlights sound's crucial role in understanding culture and history.
Read the Article on ONMIA here
Read the Article on Penn Today here
(Image: Maggie Chiang for OMNIA)