Transom Blogs: Third Coast Festival 2007: Kevin T. Allen: Phonoscopy

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Kevin T. Allen: Phonoscopy

Posted by: David Maxon on November 5, 2007 01:13 AM | Comments (3)

One of the most unique things going on at this year's conference was Kevin T. Allen's installation piece "Phonoscope Gowanus."

Utilizing the 150 year old stereoscopic technology invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone and coupled with sound through headphones, Kevin's piece is a demonstration of how a very simple, non-state-of-the-art device can provide an experience as profound, transformative, and all encompassing as any digital age multimedia. It was like poking my head into another dimension and reminded me that this type of experience is not something new. Our great grandparents could have experienced exactly or very nearly this type of total sensory experience long before video iPods came around.

So, perhaps technology follows a built-in human desire for this type of experience rather than the other way around. Who's to say that hand shadows on the cave wall (when they were done well) weren't just as exciting as today's digital surround-sound, 800 foot high screen mega-theater experience? There must have been the Martin Scorsese of cave shadow puppets who captivated his audience just as completely.

If you missed it at the conference, Kevin has a portable kit available on his website:

http://phonoscopy.com/proposal/Portables/portables.html

Posted by: David Maxon on November 5, 2007 01:13 AM | Comments (3)

Comments on This Entry:

Thanks David!

I wasn't at the conference, but would have loved to see these phonoscopes. I found there's also a sample phonoscope posted here:

http://phonoscopy.com/proposal/html/sample.html

Awhile back, I produced a radio story for B-Side interviewing the artist Steve Gompf about a similar device called the televisor.

You can hear the story here:

http://tinyurl.com/yt2p4c

you can also check out Steve's museum of lovingly restored devices from the golden age of pre-television past here:

http://www.teleseum.org/

Posted by: John Tynan on November 5, 2007 01:12 PM

Thanks for the comments David. It was great to be at the fest and am walking away very inspired by all the people I met there. I hope the 3rd Coast continues to program audio installation as part of the fest, I was honored to be their first.

John, I ran into Ann Heppermann at the fest and she also told me about Steve Gompf. Sounds like a kindred spirit. Looking forward to hearing your piece. Thanks for sharing!

Also, here is a link to more general info on phonoscopy: http://phonoscopy.com/phonoscopy.html
Enjoy!

Posted by: Kevin T. Allen on November 6, 2007 09:10 AM

Congratultions Kevin! Great to see a sample of your project on the site...Gene

Posted by: Gene Wisniewski on November 11, 2007 03:24 PM

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