While most of us can’t help but boogie whenever our ears catch onto the sound waves of our favorite song, there is a rather complex process at work: the conversion of acoustical energy into mechanical energy1. It is this process which enables our distinct sense of hearing ~ helping us collect valuable information about our environment and even intensely affecting our overall mood at times, especially when it comes to music. But the term ‘creative sound’ can refer to more than just ‘creativity in sound’ or a beautifully melodic tune. In theory, it is meant to re:present the notion that “good vibes” can also travel via sound waves ~ and not just in the form of music, but also through the art of conversation, as well. (Even the ones we have with ourselves in our head… or is that just me? ?)
Don’t get me wrong: my love for music is as reckless as the Titanic + goes as deep as its heartbreaking demise. But this theory aims to go even deeper into our understanding of sound & vocal acoustics, and the extraordinary capacity that music has to ignite our spirits is just the tip of the iceberg. So let’s dive into the science behind it a bit more then, shall we?
Here’s a little play-by-play: each & every sound wave (favored or not) travels first through the funnel of the pinna, which serves as a sort of pressurized gateway; this helps compress the sound into waveforms far more suitable to the eardrum so that – after this information has been encoded – it may be easily transferred into the auditory canal. Throughout the evolution of human hearing, our species has achieved an incredibly diverse level of audibility (perception of hearing), and this has engendered the human language with so many dialectal variations that we can hardly understand one another cross-continent (the lingering, debilitating effects of colonization notwithstanding…) ~ but of course, eardrums are not the only means of interpreting waves & vibrations.
“Much of animal communication depends on propagating waves, such as light, acoustic, electromagnetic waves. Evolutionarily, the reception and processing of the energy embedded in such waves is advantageous, as it allows for the gain of information about the environment, close by or distant.” — Towards understanding plant bioacoustics
“Much of animal communication depends on propagating waves, such as light, acoustic, electromagnetic waves. Evolutionarily, the reception and processing of the energy embedded in such waves is advantageous, as it allows for the gain of information about the environment, close by or distant.”
There are indeed many species which are able to discern what’s happening in their environment using a different method entirely ~ and snakes are one such example, having evolved in such a way that they are able to “hear” via a cochlea-like mechanosensory system (which uses mechanical stimuli, such as pressure or vibration). As sound travels considerably well in denser substrates (surfaces) like soil, most snakes have evolved so that they maintain a consistent level of contact with the ground via slithering, using their bodies to engage readily in a conversation with their surroundings. By utilizing their jawbones as a coupling mechanism, they can pick up on those substrate vibrations and prepare themselves to fend off an enemy predator – or to spring onto unsuspecting prey. Thus, it isn’t unfounded to surmise that other species (especially those similarly dependent on the terrain) may also benefit from information received through subterranean vibrations.
While current research on the topic of rooted sentience in plants is spotty at best, there are many theoretical claims proposing that plants respond well to sound; even as early as 1848, German professor Gustav Fechner published a book titled Nanna (Soul-life of Plants) in which it was suggested that plants benefit from human conversation. And there have already been some findings made in support of the notion that plants are wholly receptive to acoustic vibrations, i.e. that the vibrations made by herbivorous insects signal certain plants’ defense mechanisms, or that the roots of certain seedlings will grow in the direction of sounds emitted at certain frequencies (as seen in the image above). Based on these studies, it would seem that even plants boogie to their favorite tunes ? But what more can that tell us about the effects that sound waves can have on living things? Well…
In a controversial ad campaign in support of the #SayNoToBullying movement (rather hypocritical, considering they make a business out of cutting trees down), IKEA UAE conducted a similar – albeit totally unsubstantiated – experiment: two plants of the same genus were taken from their inventory and placed in separate, transparent enclosures, wherein each was exposed to a constant stream of voice recordings ~ made by a group of students that had participated in the project ~ over the course of a month. One plant was given compliments & positive reinforcement, and the other was “bullied” with malicious remarks (someone decided that a control plant wasn’t necessary, it seems) – and by the end of the experiment, lo & behold, one of the plants was on its way out ?
Despite the major role that many scientific loopholes played in the outcome of their experiment, its underlying message rings true: there exists a dire need for more supportive voices in our inter- & intrapersonal spaces ~ in the relationships we form with others, but also in the relationship each of us maintains with our inner self. Moreover, ‘supportive’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘non-critical’; it is thus incredibly important that we take time to discern the difference between constructive (creative) + deconstructive (destructive) sounds – to realize that the intention we imbue our voices with can result in lasting changes to our internal & external environments. And a good place to start is to check in with yourself consistently ~ by checking your tone of voice ?
Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates –At the first gate, ask yourself: “Is it true?”At the second gate, ask: “Is it necessary?”At the third gate, ask: “Is it kind?” — of Buddhist origins
Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates –
At the first gate, ask yourself: “Is it true?”At the second gate, ask: “Is it necessary?”At the third gate, ask: “Is it kind?”
There are many versions of this true/necessary/kind mantra, most of which stem from Buddhist teachings (including this one, taken loosely from the Pāṭimokkha: “Do I speak at the right time, or not? Do I speak facts, or not? Do I speak gently, or harshly? Do I speak profitable words, or not? Do I speak with a kind heart, or with inward malice?”) ~ and although values like truth, necessity + kindness are inherently bound to subjectivity, the usefulness they can serve as gateways to healthy communication is manifest. In my understanding of this series of mantras, it isn’t so much about the answer to each question, but rather the purpose of questioning oneself – to utilize inquiry as a method of positive affirmation via self-critique. It’s a slippery slope, though, for sure: self-criticism (among other de[con]structive thought processes) without meaningful good intent can lead us in a downward spiral of self-depreciation, whereby our creative voice is weakened.
Within the echo chamber of destructive thought generated by this type of volatile & detrimental criticism, we will more often than not lose the ability to reason with our inner self… Meanwhile, any insecurities we have can easily takeover – pushing us into an even deeper feeling of depression. But whenever we choose to speak about our flaws/\mistakes with a more hopeful, compassionate & constructive voice, the “good vibrations” echo so much louder ~ the pro:active choice to speak to ourselves (& others) creatively is what cultivates the emotional space we require to undergo internal (& interpersonal) conflict-resolution. By granting ourselves unrestricted access to such a space, we learn how to deal with our emotions/\concerns more comprehensively; forming & maintaining an open dialogue with our inner selves hastens our emotional healing processes and balances our individual growth ?
Both kindness & empathy – the underpinnings of peaceful co_existence – require nurturing, and our creative voices can provide us with that nourishment. Imagine waking up in the morning, taking that first look at yourself in the mirror, and telling yourself something true, necessary & kind. What would that sound like? And how will it re:sound throughout your day? Practicing these methods of creative speech in communal working spaces can just as well foster feelings of camaraderie, e.g. starting your meetings off with a few caring words to one another generates an ambiance of trust & appreciation (something we’ve seen first-hand at Amazingy HQ as we continue to take steps towards becoming a teal organization) ~ and playing a feel-good song every once and a while on the office speakers also doesn’t hurt ?
Tags: Mental Health, Self-Care
J. R. Thesis Smith is a mixed-race millenial in the dawn of their 30s & a wordsmith of sorts. They've spent most of their waking life in the U.S. – in the urban sprawl of NYC that is New Jersey, in the depths of its suburban echoes – but always dreamed of making their way across a bigger pond, to a place where opportunity would knock a little more often. After completing their training at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts (effectively spending three poor years in NYC) as a dance major, they gifted themselves a semester of studying abroad in Berlin, and in doing so kept a vow made in early adolescence – thereby inciting a metamorphosis of promise into full-bodied intention: to eventually fully emigrate to Berlin, the first space that had ever allowed them the freedom to find their own breath, their pace of existence. Now that they finally live there, they're learning how to breathe again – striving to become a more active member of the Undercommons as they continue on the odyssey that is their self-realization as an artistic being. Their most resonant hope is that they will be able to say what is true & necessary & kind; that people will find the time to listen, to themselves and each other; and that their voice will inspire other voices to speak out in turn.
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