This poignant story framed in less than 15 minutes-long audio essay is a great example of using 2 methods of communication simultaneously and creating a wholesome and concise piece of work. Sounds recorded on the island and the way they are mixed with the narrator’s voice, turned up and down to create dramaturgy, are forming the landscape of Armager in a subtle but convincing manner. It’s very interesting, considering how the story unveils..
It seems like this topic has no much coverage in english-spoken media. I tried to research the subject more, but after realising I was reading (translated from Danish) what essentially turned out to be a very long and complex electric toothbrush advertisement, I decided to only focus on the contents of the above broadcast.
It’s a testimony of isolation, prejudice, media manipulation and resistance through the use of sonic techniques. It reminded me of what I referred to in my previous post – language as a tool of propaganda and, consecutively, oppression.
Activists from the island to fight deception of the media that were portraying Amager as a sinister and dangerous place and its population as a second class citizens, consisting mainly of thieves and hooligans. They installed small vibrating motors all around the Amager, especially in the most famous locations. Those motors created a hum that could be red by sesimograph and therefore, became the islands watermark, that would help to debunk recordings allegedly made on the island that were often just a media hoax.
Isolated citizens used their language to distinguish people coming from outside as they became wearier. They created several variations on the accent that would help them recognise each other. In this case, the language became a form of resistance.
The analogy between the people of Detroit and the isolated population of Armager can’t be unseen. Both used technology and sound to survive in hostile and discriminating environments. They created a sonic code so they could communicate within their communities, a way of resisting their oppressor.
