[sustran] Forging Mexico’s Identity Through Street Sounds

[Todd Edelman]

http://www.psfk.com/2010/08/forging-mexicos-identity-through-street-sounds.html

Western culture is known for its ocular-centricism that places emphasis 
on deriving meaning through images and visual cues. Yet for many 
cultures, sounds can form a large part of their identity. Mexico is one 
such country who values sound as an integral part of its heritage.

Recognizing these sounds as a precious cultural commodity, the Mexican 
government recently deemed this week National Sound Week, with the goal 
of raising awareness about “endangered sounds.”

USA Today reports:

A series of four notes on a pan flute means the scissor-sharpening man 
is in the neighborhood. A ringing hand bell means the garbage truck is 
here. In parks on weekends, balloon vendors announce themselves with a 
buzzing plastic whistle.

The sounds are not just noise, say some. They are part of Mexico’s 
culture, and the government is celebrating them, including “sound walks” 
through cities, performances of recorded street noise and a contest to 
choose “The Most Beautiful Sound in Mexico.”

“People who come from other countries may be bothered by all this noise, 
but for Mexicans, these sounds are part of our identity,” said Álvaro 
Hegewisch, director of Mexico’s Fonoteca Nacional, or National Audio 
Archive.

…During the week, government-run radio stations will play two-minute 
segments featuring Mexico’s “endangered sounds,” such as the tip-tap of 
cobblers hammering nails into leather or the notoriously out-of-tune 
organs played by Mexico City’s organ grinders.

The government has also recognized that this threat of “audio 
extinction” is related to the rise of literacy and the further 
development of its country to meet other Westernized standards.

USA Today: “Mexico celebrates its unique street sounds this week”

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Todd Edelman
Green Idea Factory,
a member of the OPENbike team
Mobile: ++49(0)162 814 4081

edelman at greenidea.eu
www.greenidea.eu
todd at openbike.se
www.openbike.se

Skype: toddedelman

Urbanstr. 45
10967 Berlin
Germany

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