Posted by: Justin Grotelueschen on May 29, 2005 03:44 PM | Comments (0)

The panel, from blurred left to blurrier right: Milena Droumeva, Geoff Siskind, Dragan Todorovic, and Yves Daoust. These four artists created sound works commissioned by the CBC's excellent Outfront program specifically to document Deep Wireless. These works were aired the past two nights here at the Radio Theatre performances. Outfront is a personal documentary series that puts a mic in the hands of everyday folks with a story to tell (ahhh, most Transom-like) -- 15 minutes a day, four days a week, approximately 62,000 listeners a day. It's wonderful that this wonderful program still thrives and is supported, and it was most excellent that Neil Sandell of Outfront showed up here to introduce the artists.

So the big question from this panel discussion was, is narrative necessary in radio art? It's a broadly sweeping question that brought forth a lot of other questions, as in which sound elements create narrative, how subtle or blunt should narrative be, how can narrative NOT be present?

The panel reaction was broad as a result. Some perspective? Geoff said that he likes having something to hang on to, to take away, while he does something else; it grounds the listener while still taking them in interesting places. Dragan thinks narrative is any any piece whether you want it or not. Since it's there, you need to control it -- take care of it -- because the listener will look for a narrative regardless of what the producer does with it.

I think everyone agreed the question wasn't answered, and they wouldn't answer it anytime soon. What do you think? Comments welcome.

LIsten to my live recording of a segment of what Yves did for Outfront -- ditto for what Geoff did.

More from Deep Wireless 2005 :
« Kunstradio show-and-tell: Radio Art is a Multi-Channel Experience | Wadhams and Brookes unite: Not Seen Not Heard »