Sound Inventions

TAoN No. 109: What would a penitent honk sound like? Plus a new icebreaker, and more.

Apr 19

Reminder: A Google Doc in progress collecting ways people can help out with the tragic situation in Ukraine is here. And here is a New York Times link to ways you can help.

The most recent entry in TAoN’s Dictionary of Missing Words series was actually a missing gesture. “We have so many rude gestures, many of which we use while driving,” reader Heather observed. “But we don’t have a good gesture to say ‘I’m Sorry’!”

I love this point, and mused about other possibilities for those situations when we, say, accidentally cut someone off. Maybe a penitent version of the honked horn?

I am delighted to report that this idea resonated with dear friend of TAoN Marc Weidenbaum. Marc, via his site Disquiet, operates the Disquiet Junto project, serving up a new challenge/prompt every week to inspire musicians and sound makers. This week’s prompt:

Disquiet Junto Project 0537: Penitent Honk
The Assignment: Do sound design for “a missing gesture” of vehicular life.
…
Step 1: Consider the sounds drivers make using their car horns. A firm, accusatory blast. A short, sharp alert. A held tone of vein-popping exasperation. What the horn isn’t easily capable of, however, is apologizing. If you make a mistake, and you want to signal your chagrin, there’s no button for that. …

Read the further details & instructions here. Are you a sound-maker? Get in on this!

Meanwhile, results are already coming in, and Marc is (per usual) collecting them in a Soundcloud playlist. Check it out here:

I absolutely love it when this kind of thing happens — I am thrilled that TAoN played a role in all this creative fun, and I am grateful to reader Heather, to Marc, and to Junto contributors!

The Art of Noticing is Rob Walker’s newsletter about attention, creativity, and staying human. Your support makes it possible.

Noticing is about other people, too. The Icebreaker series aims to help with that. There’s a central collection spot for all the icebreakers to date, here.

Today’s icebreaker is from reader Sofía:

If you could rule for a day, what would your first decree be?

Actually Sofia made several suggestions, including: Who would win in a fight between Batman and Terminator and why? What's your favourite cleaning product? And, Which is your favourite Spice Girl and why? All fun! Thanks so much Sofía!

As usual, I’m still working through the disorganized backlog of icebreaker submissions. But as always, I want more:

Please send your favorite icebreaker (whether you made it up or found it elsewhere) to consumed@robwalker.net

In other news

I had a lot of fun talking to Paul Armstrong on his Twitter space show/podcast. Check it out below. Thanks Paul!

Paul Armstrong @paul__armstrong

The replay (or ‘rinse’ as we’re calling them!) for @notrobwalker’s #mouthwashshow is live! Catch up and retweet if you want your coworkers and followers to thank you! https://t.co/6I6VImw16M

Cutting things a bit short this week to deal with some personal matters out of town; home and back to normal soon.
As mentioned previously, I’m well into my annual five-week class on “point of view,” for the School of Visual Arts’ Products of Design program. I’m writing about the class in a series of Thursday member-only posts — the assignments, the thinking behind the class, how it shaped and has since been shaped by TAoN, and other fun behind-the-scenes stuff. Posts so far have addressed heroes, villains, personal rules, and crafting a personal manifesto; the bullshit-free manifesto; and the poster manifesto. I always learn from the PoV experience; become a paid subscriber to enjoy these member-only posts, and I bet you will learn something, too!

Give a gift subscription here. Underwrite a subscription for someone who doesn’t have the budget right now, here.

Okay that’s it!

As always, I value your feedback (suggestions, critiques, positive reinforcement, constructive insults, etc.), as well as your tips or stories or personal noticing rituals, things we need a word for, and of course your icebreakers: consumed@robwalker.net. Or use the comments.

The Art of Noticing