Critics Who Know Jack by Joseph Maviglia

Author:Joseph Maviglia [Maviglia, Joseph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781550718386
Publisher: Guernica Editions
Published: 2014-09-07T16:00:00+00:00

THE IMAGE THAT A SOUND CREATES

Screen projectors used to rattle, and before you even saw an image related to the sound of the moving picture, that hum and rattle created a sense of “what was coming” — an exuberance of sorts — an expectation! In those moments sound created images of imagination.

An airplane cracks Mach One as you are walking home from work and you can’t see the plane. You think of the last vacation you took to Florida or Europe and the faces of the passengers and the manner in which you rushed to make sure you had packed everything you needed. You still can’t see the plane, but the sound has created a bevy of images. An aural signifier.

In reverse. You take an early morning walk and the full moon is hanging over the houses and trees. The moon (as far as you know) makes no sound. But you recall the whispers of your loved one from a previous encounter. At that time the moon seemed to hum in its waxing, and mute itself as it waned. But the moon neither hums nor mutes.

You sit in front of your television set and begin the sorting of channel by channel to avoid the onslaught of images and sound that distract you from engaging in the narratives of certain TV programs or newscasts. You are arduous in your intent to find something interesting to watch but you become aware of your fingers and the illusion of power that you can control your viewing. You look further at your fingers and ask yourself if you haven’t something better to do? Question? For all its commercial enthusiasm can TV programming create tedium and boredom? Can it offer comfort? Is it a contemporary hearth, easing you into the late evening and preparing you for your dreams and rapid eye movement?

Think of fire. Think of fire’s aroma. Now you have an olfactory experience that enthuses your senses in the moment and for the most part allows a recall of the last time ‘round this pleasantry. Now you realize you can have both — the power of your fingers (or the illusion of power to control your viewing) and — the pleasure of a fire in the fireplace. So with the wood crackling and wood smoke rising, the plane flying overhead (unseen), the moon hanging over the eaves, your senses are filling though you feel sleep just around the corner. Then — a car scoots down your street and the big box sound of heavy rap throws your heart up to your throat. All peace gone as you wait for the car to get to the end of the street and fade into the neighbourhoods beyond. You imagine some idiot kids making noise for fun.

The truth is, a young woman’s driving home from a party but you only find this out in the morning news as you read of a car smashing into a traffic post. In your head, you hear the sound of her smash-up.

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