This piece was something that I have never listened to before. It was like a unique mix between an interactive podcast, Animal Planet or Discovery channel episode, scientific hypothesis and creative non-fiction. While I was advised to close my door and turn off lights in order to really listen to this, I had a hard time listening while wishing I could actually “see” the interview with the ant expert and how she describes how the ants interact with each other.
However, I really liked how the narrators of “Emergence” appealed to the other human senses by describing how ants use pheromones and sense of smell through unplanned accidents and I was really fascinated with how this idea of emergence connects to the creations of cities and neighborhoods. I was so intrigued by the fact that organization (or the science of emergence) comes from the actions of everyone and no one at the same time. This was something that I haven't ever heard of before, but plays into the common idea that disorder breeds order.
Also, in terms of the structure of the piece, I really enjoyed the diverse sounds of nature and city life juxtaposed with narrative. It brought everything together and cemented the connection between insect life and nature to how we view the “civilized” world of city planning.
Also, in terms of the structure of the piece, I really enjoyed the diverse sounds of nature and city life juxtaposed with narrative. It brought everything together and cemented the connection between insect life and nature to how we view the “civilized” world of city planning.
I also really enjoyed the nature and city sounds in the piece. That's one of my favorite parts of Radiolab. Since it's an audio piece, it is vital to set an audio scene that can provoke images. I could really picture the urban flower neighborhood and the beekeeper's backyard. Matching these images to the content helped it to stick well in my mind.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about the broad application to the senses within the piece. They really do explore smell and sight, among other things. That make me rethink some of my criticisms, for example the inclusion of the stocks story. That related to hearing, which ties a little more into the exploration of order through the senses.