Cities Don't Have to Damage Hearing

Henry Grabar cites the arguments of Joel Beckerman, the founder of Man Made Music and composer of jingles for AT&T, CBS and the author of “The Sonic Boom” to make the case that planners, politicians, and urban designers can do a better job considering the aural experience of cities. "Bad sound, according to Beckerman, is 'as detrimental to quality of life as bad streetlights or poor sidewalks.' (Like the high hat in a pop song, once you hear it, it can’t be unheard.)"

According to Grabar, Beckerman argues in favor of "sonic humanism": "an awareness of our sonic environment, and a cognizance that we can change it if we want to." Grabar also quotes artists Bruce Odland and Sam Auinger to further advance the point: "All infrastructure is designed…Our ears were simply not part of the design brief."

Grabar cites a few examples where cities have given sound more of the attention it demands: "In 2004, London adopted a comprehensive sonic strategy. The 'Sounder City' initiative, outlined in this 280-page manual [pdf], was intended to fight noise pollution. It suggested improvements to everything from flight paths to utility company repairs to canal traffic."