Sound at Cam 2.61

Sound studies, although established in the 1960s/70s, has often been seen as an isolated “niche” area of research. However, as the current rapid growth of interdisciplinary research in sensory studies demonstrates, academic enquiries into the extra-visual/textual facets of reality spur on the discovery of new materials and the development of innovative frameworks and methods. Sensory studies researchers commonly assert that enquiries into the multisensory create dynamic new sets of knowledges. Far from being “niche” interests, these new developments and knowledges have had wide-ranging impact and can continue to enrich the broader academic community. In our view, the goal of sensory studies is to diversify the frames and modes of enquiry in all fields within the humanities, arts and social sciences.

The conceptual foundations of this conference are that sound is a vast assemblage of multisensory experiences and multivalent conceptualisations, and that sound is at once embodied, social and political. As such, this conference will invite leading researchers to consider not only the relationship between sound and broader sensory perception but also the social, political and economic implications of sound: the complex power dynamics of why particular sounds are amplified while others are restricted.

By bringing such a diverse group of academics, artists and students together, we aim to draw attention to the international growth of interest in sound and sensory studies. This conference is intended to facilitate dialogue that will situate sound studies more firmly within the interdisciplinary sensory studies domain—and as such, will politicise the ‘sensory studies’ endeavour, increasing consciousness of the innovative and potentially subversive nature of research that steps outside of the norms of academic investigation into visual and textual materials.