Reading Review

The era of white patriarchal Euro-American socio-political domination is eroding from movements and ideas that seek to democratize the human experience of power. Technology is the vanguard of change and the global digitization of information and social connectivity is forcing a change within the institutions that have both oppressed and suppressed a large demographic of peoples. This is, to say the least, a complete paradigm shift that is a welcomed zeitgeist of the 21st century.

The 20th century brought about a radical paradigm shift of social reform and liberation movements of marginalized peoples. Institutions and power systems that monopolized society began to give way to the voice of the ‘other’ and the authors of this week’s texts each represent a distinct voice of ideological change. At the onset of the 21st century, we find that technology and global digitization has led to new pedagogical developments in education that seek to improve upon the limitations of traditional face-to-face lecture style teaching. Although initially two separate movements, the socio-politcal freedom of the oppressed and democratization of learning converge together to create a holistic social revolution which extends beyond the material captivity of the individual and penetrates the inner core of an individual’s inner workings. This erasure of the orthodox seeks to allow those who have been forced into silence to enter into the larger dialogue of knowledge and academic credibility as a means to empower and recognize the victims of ‘ism’ exploitation.

Two primary concepts, those being inclusion and representation, are at the foundation of the desired systemic transformation. The process for inclusion allows space for the marginalized groups who have been intentionally excluded from the fraternity of ruling elite that seek to preserve an exclusive homogeneous identity. As for representation, the ushering in of a new educational era can allow for innovative individuals within the silenced majority to become intellectual delegates of knowledge and for the pantheon of historical icons to be supplanted by a new generation of individuals.

Listening Review

Ametsub ‘Over6633’ from the album All is Silence (2012) 

A complimentary blend of natural soundscapes (perhaps his own original field recordings) and electronic textural layering, this piece expands slowly through a web of intertwining sonic textures combining processed sounds and organics landscapes. An undercurrent of rhythm moves the piece forward as a plethora of unfolding layers ebb and flow between the foreground of the listener’s attention and the background of the piece’s subtly expanding border. Neither minimal nor maximal, this composition brings into balance the abundant presence of microsounds and an ever increasing addition of contrasting tonal entities. Just as soon as it gains momentum and a clear direction is established the piece tapers into an end point that leaves the ears craving for more. Glitch, minimalism, ambience, groove and sound collage all come together brilliantly in 'Over 6633', demonstrating Ametsub’s production, mixing and compositional prowess as a creatively eclectic artist.