But What of the Ethnographic Ear? Anthropology, Sound, and the Senses by Veit Erlmann

In this article, Erlmann emphasizes a sort of sensual scholarship. He states “attention to the senses might not only yield new and richer kinds of ethnographic data but, perhaps more importantly, also force us to rethink a broad range of theoretical and methodological issues (pg.248).” Erlmann calls for the rejection or replacement of this current thought of the eye as a modern sensory organ and hearing as a pre-modern mode of perception. Some case studies that Erlmann includes in his essay include an analysis of the sonic definition of the “home” and those in it. Also, he compares the historical continuities of the gramophone, radio, and Walkman. He states “Walkman users share with the flaneur the desire to aestheticize the alienating urban space by “colonizing” it sonically…(pg.251)”
Pious listening and, in particular, Qur’an reading are analyzed. Whether devout Muslims value the sonic aesthetic of Qur’an reading more or the direct meaning of the words more becomes a comparison between secular Muslims and more traditionalist Muslims, respectively.
This article focused on many separate studies on how music or sonic aesthetics are felt in different situations. Although the different studies allowed me to understand the vast possibilities and positive qualities of using sound rather than and in conjunction with the other senses, I only superficially understood all the studies. However, reading about the different uses of sound, especially the medical uses of sound and the art of hearing another person listen, has made me want to read more case studies.