Radio / body: Phenomenology and dramaturgies of radio

Radio / body draws from the philosophical discipline of phenomenology to question a number of prevalent ideas in radio theory and practice. The intention is to shift the basis for comprehending the experience of radio drama from theoretical systems such as semiotics, and abstract metaphors such as ‘visual imagination’ and ‘theatre of the mind’, towards a model that understands it in terms of perceptual, bodily experience of a holistic, graspable world. It posits that radio drama works because the sonic structure created through its dramaturgy expresses the perceptual experience of encountering the auditory world – a ‘listening to a listening’ – and radio dramaturgy can be understood as a process of structuring sounds that listen to the dramatic world. Using this insight, it is posited that conventional radio dramaturgy generates a mode of listening focused on the referential meaning of the sounds, rather than their affective qualities – this is labelled the semantic paradigm of British radio. The history of this paradigm is explored in depth, revealing its emergence to be the product of contingent cultural and technological factors. Now that these factors have changed radically due to the rise of digital technologies, it is argued that a paradigm shift is taking place, with a move towards a more bodily, more resonant dramaturgy. Front matter Contents Acknowledgements Introduction: the problem of radio drama Radio thinks, radio sees: the theatre of the mind and beyond Radio listens: a phenomenological model of radio drama How does radio listen? The semantic paradigm of British radio dramaturgy and its problems Radio learns to listen: a genealogy of the semantic paradigm of radio dramaturgy Radio listens to itself: resonant radio dramaturgies Conclusion References Index Introduction: the problem of radio drama1 Radio thinks, radio sees: the theatre of the mind and beyond2 Radio listens: a phenomenological model of radio drama3 How does radio listen? The semantic paradigm of British radio dramaturgy and its problems4 Radio learns to listen: a genealogy of the semantic paradigm of radio dramaturgy5 Radio listens to itself: resonant radio dramaturgiesConclusion Index This book presents a phenomenological model for understanding radio drama and uses it to analyse the practice of radio dramaturgy in the UK. It argues that the central role of the body in the act of listening has been neglected and suggests that a more resonant, embodied dramaturgy is needed to meet the demands of current listening cultures. -- .