Vibratology: Material, Corporeal and Material Aspects of Sounding
Vibratology uses wave mechanics and the dynamic propagation of patterns as both a model and a methodology for investigating the entire spectrum of regular, repeated or recursive movement. Sound waves, musical rhythms, dance moves, daily routines, season, anniversaries and economic cycles can all be subject to vibratological investigation. The dynamics of regular patterned movement, diffractions and rhythms can occur at micro, meso and macro frequency scales – through media that may be material, corporeal or sociocultural. With auditory propagation, for example, longitudinal waves are diffused through the gaseous medium of the air. Vibratology draws on Bachelard’s concept of rhythmanalysis, developed by Lefebvre as the investigation of rhythms and dynamic patterning.
Dr Julian Henriques has interests in music and auditory culture as both filmmaker and researcher. After a first degree in psychology from Bristol University, he co-authored Changing the Subject and was a founding editor of the Ideology & Consciousness journal. He then worked as a freelance journalist for the New Society and other periodicals, researcher for London Weekend Television and a producer for BBC Television, Music and Arts Department, making films in Latin America and the Caribbean. He also ran his own production company, Formation Films, making documentaries for Channel 4 Television, ZDF and Arte. His fiction credits as writer-director include the improvised drama We the Ragamuffin and the feature film Babymother, a reggae musical. Julian ran the film and television department at CARIMAC at the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. He is currently senior lecturer in the Department of Media and Communications, at Goldsmiths, University of London, convening the MA in Script Writing programme and leading the BA Music as Communication and Creativity course. His PhD was from the University of London and recent published chapters and journal articles have been in Auditory Culture Reader, Sonic Interventions, Sonic Synergies, African & Black Diaspora and Body & Society. His monograph Sonic Bodies is to be published in 2011.
Julian Henriques
Goldsmiths, University of London