Phonentesia – Work plan: Block 2

This is the work plan that the research around phonentesia takes off from. Starting in the midst of a course in research and data collection, it sets the intent to articulate and explore how sounds can be used to make a listener experience tension. The study resembles artistic research and is anecdotal in its execution.

Background & Research Question

Sound can be used by artists and producers to convey and control emotions in the listener, a practice evident throughout modern human history. Whether as a complement to other media (theater, film, video games, etc.) or standalone as music and soundscapes, the most appreciated works seem to evoke the strongest emotions in their audience. I am intrigued by how tension is conveyed through sound, as it appears frequently in various formats. Thus, I aim to explore its characteristics and how they manifest in relevant contexts. My direct research question is:

How can tension represented in sound be dissected at a fundamental level, and how can this representation be implemented effectively in today’s media?

Purpose

There is substantial literature examining tension in music theory and its application, particularly in horror film scores. The goal is to first establish a clear understanding of what sonic tension means at a basic level, then reflect on why it achieves the desired effect on listeners. With sufficient empirical material, it should be possible to demonstrate how tension can be implemented in future works using a few simple approaches. This study should be interpretable across various fields and provide an introductory, easily understandable explanation of the phenomenon.

Knowledge Goals

I aim to gain insight into the components of sound and their initial impact on people. My objective is to understand how composers and audio producers work with tension in their respective mediums. Analytical and reflective methods will be central to this research, and I also hope to refine my ability to filter relevant information. After completing the study, I want a broader perspective on sound and its components, enabling practical decision-making in my work with sound in digital media.

Research

I will gather literary compilations, supported by empirical material, that address tension as a physical phenomenon to lay the foundation for my study. During the research, I plan to find and reference claims and other studies to support or refute hypotheses I encounter. I will also analyze examples of tension in various works to relate them to real-world occurrences.

Method

To address something as seemingly abstract as a feeling (i.e., tension), I will first establish its empirical occurrence and then loosely connect it to why people experience tension from hearing different sounds. I will avoid discussing the psychological aspect as much as possible since it is a subject I am not equipped to handle. However, I anticipate that some reference to psychology will be inevitable, given that the study concerns human reactions to sound. When such cases arise, I will speculate cautiously and clearly mark where deeper psychological research is needed.

Once I can define what sonic tension entails, I will attempt to break it down into a collection of building blocks to identify sounds that can evoke a sense of tension in listeners. These building blocks will then be applied to examples in digital media, such as films, video games, and music, and analyzed to demonstrate their usage.

I may also interview and discuss this topic with others who can provide valuable input for my investigation.

The work will primarily involve analysis and reflection on information from literary works, sound examples, and other digital media.

Unsorted Links

Found after brief brainstorming for the study:

My name is Jacob Westberg and I am a game composer, software developer, and educator of game audio. You can find topics here surrounding creative work in game music that I find insightful and interesting to research.

In order to share my research with others for free, all articles on this website will be open and accessible for anyone. You can support this open research by subscribing to my Patreon.