~ The Soundlist ~

You will collect sound items from the Internet, embed them in a soundlist posting, and then write around them with explanations and/or reflections.

For this assignment, you should use a mix of audio materials. You can use musical selections, natural or human sounds, interviews, sounds from popular culture, or any other sonic sample that can be embedded into a Web page. Be sure to use a variety of kinds of sounds.

Humble Beginnings

Jay Gatsby of F. Scott Fitzgerald's literary classic The Great Gatsby was not born great. Quite the contary as a matter of fact, Gatsby grew up in a low income family of farm workers who teetered around the poverty line for his entire childhood. Despite their meager living, Gatsby always dreamed of something much greater for himself, working his way through college as a janitor.

However, Gatsby was not content with a life of blue collar work, for he knew within him that there was something greater, a promise for a future of fortune and prestige. This desire to be seen - to be someone - sweltered within Gatsby, clanking at his side like janitor keys, mocking every step he took.  

Head Over Heels, a Path to the Top

After misfortune robs Gatsby of his first attempt at a more lucrative existence, he joins the military where he meets Daisy Fay, a southern socialite that embodies the superficial lifestyle for which Gatsby so desperately yearns. He quickly falls madly in love with her, both as an object of beauty and of sociable advancement. However, circumstance of status and logistics keep the pair apart, Daisy marries another, and Gatsby vows to win her back through building his credibility as a member of the upper echelon of society.

"Your Song" describes a desperate love, one of longing and sincerity; but ultimately it boils down to nothing more than surface-deep attraction. Following a tip toe tempo of deliberate keystrokes followed by ambient notes, Golding's ghostly delivery of the lyrics encompass the same unsure and transient connection that Gatsby and Daisy share. As the lyrics read, "I hope you don't mind... [...] yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen."

It is all for show.

It is all fake.

It is for all the wrong reasons.

The Roaring 20's

Gatsby commits his whole life to the idea of positioning himself in the perfect niche of society in order to give Daisy a life she could find to be acceptable. He invests in the business of bootlegging, making many shady connections and deals, but building a vast fortune all the same . In his next power move, he purchases a mansion just across the way from Daisy and Tom, Daisy's "old money" husband. Gatsby has finally broken through the seemingly impenetrable wall of the upper class. 

However, there will be a price for Gatsby's instant rise to the top. Everything appears larger than life from the distance, but the closer one looks, the more that is truly revealed. Just as the wire and foil must be removed from a bottle of champagne in order to pop the cork and pour the glass, Gatsby has made many preparations for this new and enticing life to be presented to Daisy. The cork is poped; the tension is put at ease, as Gatsby has finally achieved his first goal.  Now all Daisy has to do is drink from the glass. 

Close, But Not Close Enough

Eventually Daisy and Gatsby's paths cross again and the two immediately pick up where they left off.  They visit often, confess their love for one another openly, and make plans for the future, all the while ignoring the unfortunate reality that Daisy is a married woman and the mother to a child. Weeks pass as Gatsby patiently waits for Daisy to make her decision: her current and dull life with Tom or a new, passionate, and risky life with Gatsby. 

"Waiting Game" utilizes an electronic pulse of building tension to foreshadow the ultimate demise of the love described in the lyrics. This beat could be Gatsby's very own heart beat and he longingly waits for Daisy to come to a decision. Lyrically, the song depicts a situation where the couple is restrained by the opinions of others in some way ("What if I never even see you, cause we are both on the stage? / Don't tell me to listen to your song because it isn't the same.") Similarly, Daisy and Gatsby come from two totally different worlds and are forced to hide their love, at least at the time being, from the general public. 

Crashing Down in Flames

Gatsby and Daisy eventually leave their awkward and impromptu honeymoon period when the pair, along with Tom, Nick, and Jordan, take a trip into the city on a hot Saturday afternoon. Daisy's infidelity is exposed when Gatsby demands that she confess his love for him. Unable to totally abandon a future with Tom and his guarantee of social stability, Daisy admits to feelings for both Tom and Gatsby.  In a whirlwind of emotion and heated discussion, Daisy and Gatsby leave in Gatsby's car to return to West Egg, upon Daisy's insistence on driving. On the route home, a frazzled and panicked Daisy hits Myrtle, Tom's mistress, as she runs into the street.  Gatsby watches his love and future unravel before his eyes.

Gatsby's trajectory toward his ideal life was instantly altered. Likewise, in an automobile accident, the sound is instant, almost out of thin air. It is unexpected and jarring. As the accident with Myrtle puts Gatsby a path toward his demise, the sound of this tragic scene playing out demands the attention of all those involved, putting them on edge and expectant of what is to come. 

An Inevitable Demise

Daisy leaves Gatsby's house that day in a trance. Gatsby hides the evidence of the hit-and-run and remains hopeful for a phone call from Daisy in which she will agree to run off and elope with him. Predictably, that is far from what happens. Myrtle's husband shoots Gatsby in a fit of rage and despair, mistaking him for the driver behind the wheel. His dream, as well as Great Gatsby himself, is dead.

A gunshot - it is a book end, one that often signifies death. In this case, it is hollow, much like Gatsby's entire life. He built his fortune, his home, and his relationships on a foundation of artificial hollowness and his life was ended by a hallow gunshot, all for a woman that would not even attend his funeral.

Gatsby is supposed to be the epitome of the American dream, a reminder to the literary world that here in the United States, we live in a mobile society in which anyone can make their own way. Why is it then, that all the sounds most easily associated with him are so tragic, so empty, but most of all, so superficial?

• Greater play-by-play analysis of the sonic elements  
• Expansion of the discussion of the two songs
• More explanation into thematic concepts

Humble Beginnings

Jay Gatsby of F. Scott Fitzgerald's literary classic The Great Gatsby was not born great. Quite the contary as a matter of fact, Gatsby grew up in a low income family of farm workers who teetered around the poverty line for his entire childhood. Despite their meager living, Gatsby always dreamed of something much greater for himself, working his way through college as a janitor.

However, Gatsby was not content with a life of blue collar work, for he knew within him that there was something greater, a promise for a future of fortune and prestige. This desire to be seen - to be someone - sweltered within Gatsby, clanking at his side like janitor keys, mocking every step he took.   

Head Over Heels, a Path to the Top

After misfortune robs Gatsby of his first attempt at a more lucrative existence, he joins the military where he meets Daisy Fay, a southern socialite that embodies the superficial lifestyle for which Gatsby so desperately yearns. He quickly falls madly in love with her, both as an object of beauty and of sociable advancement. However, circumstance of status and logistics keep the pair apart, Daisy marries another, and Gatsby vows to win her back through building his credibility as a member of the upper echelon of society.

"Your Song" describes a distant love, one of longing and desperation. Following a tip toe tempo of deliberate keystrokes followed by ambient notes, Golding's ghostly delivery of the lyrics encompass the same unsure and transient connection that Gatsby and Daisy share. 

Gatsby could quite literally be the narrator of this song, with Daisy as the subject. Obsessive lyrics aside, the song depicts this kind of love as toxically dependent. Just as the lyrics state, Gatsby would do anything in the world for Daisy and not in a romantic way either; he is willing to cover up a hit and run for this woman. Additionally, as the lyrics read, "I hope you don't mind... [...] yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen." Gatsby seeks Daisy's approval on everything in his life, even his own feelings. Every action he takes is undergone with her reaction in mind. For Gatsby, this love is soul motivation, it is toxic, and it is ultimately what gets him killed. 

The Roaring 20's

Gatsby commits his whole life to the idea of positioning himself in the perfect niche of society in order to give Daisy a life she could find to be acceptable. He invests in the business of bootlegging, making many shady connections and deals, but building a vast fortune all the same . In his next power move, he purchases a mansion just across the way from Daisy and Tom, Daisy's "old money" husband. Gatsby has finally broken through the seemingly impenetrable wall of the upper class. 

However, there will be a price for Gatsby's instant rise to the top. Everything appears larger than life from the distance, but the closer one looks, the more that is truly revealed. Just as the wire and foil must be removed from a bottle of champagne in order to pop the cork and pour the glass, Gatsby has made many preparations for this new and enticing life to be presented to Daisy. The cork is popped; the tension is put at ease, as Gatsby has finally achieved his first goal.  Now all Daisy has to do is come drink.  

After the glass is poured, the champagne audibly fizzes, symbolizing the chemistry that seems to exist between Daisy and Gatsby when they are reunited. However, just as the bubbling does not last for long, the love between the two is not sustainable. 

Close, But Not Close Enough

Eventually Daisy and Gatsby's paths cross again and the two immediately pick up where they left off.  They visit often, confess their love for one another openly, and make plans for the future, all the while ignoring the unfortunate reality that Daisy is a married woman and the mother to a child. Weeks pass as Gatsby patiently waits for Daisy to make her decision: her current and dull life with Tom or a new, passionate, and risky life with Gatsby. 

"Waiting Game" utilizes an electronic pulse of building tension to foreshadow the ultimate demise of the love described in the lyrics. This beat could be Gatsby's very own heart beat and he longingly waits for Daisy to come to a decision. Lyrically, the song depicts a situation where the couple is restrained by the opinions of others in some way ("What if I never even see you, cause we are both on the stage? / Don't tell me to listen to your song because it isn't the same.") In Gatsby's mind, they are merely actors on a stage, pretending to be something that they are not. Daisy and Gatsby come from two totally different worlds and are forced to hide their love, at least at the time being, from the general public.  

Ultimately the song builds and builds into a frenzy of a conclusion and then ends very abruptly, just how Gatsby and Daisy's relationship did. Gatsby's worst fear has come true and the doomed fate of their affair has come to fruition.  "The way [they] started out made it something cursed from the start. "

Crashing Down in Flames

Gatsby and Daisy eventually leave their awkward and impromptu honeymoon period when the pair, along with Tom, Nick, and Jordan, take a trip into the city on a hot Saturday afternoon. Daisy's infidelity is exposed when Gatsby demands that she confess his love for him. Unable to totally abandon a future with Tom and his guarantee of social stability, Daisy admits to feelings for both Tom and Gatsby.  In a whirlwind of emotion and heated discussion, Daisy and Gatsby leave in Gatsby's car to return to West Egg, upon Daisy's insistence on driving. On the route home, a frazzled and panicked Daisy hits Myrtle, Tom's mistress, as she runs into the street.  Gatsby watches his love and future unravel before his eyes.

Gatsby's trajectory toward his ideal life was instantly altered. Likewise, in an automobile accident, the sound is instant, almost out of thin air. It is unexpected and jarring. As the accident with Myrtle puts Gatsby a path toward his demise, the sound of this tragic scene playing out demands the attention of all those involved, putting them on edge and expectant of what is to come. 

An Inevitable Demise

Daisy leaves Gatsby's house that day in a trance. Gatsby hides the evidence of the hit-and-run and remains hopeful for a phone call from Daisy in which she will agree to run off and elope with him. Predictably, that is far from what happens. Myrtle's husband shoots Gatsby in a fit of rage and despair, mistaking him for the driver behind the wheel. His dream, as well as Great Gatsby himself, is dead.

A gunshot - it is a book end, one that often signifies death. In this case, it is hollow, much like Gatsby's entire life. He built his fortune, his home, and his relationships on a foundation of artificial hollowness and his life was ended by a hallow gunshot, all for a woman that would not even attend his funeral.