Why is it when you hear an exquisite piece of music you can sometimes begin to cry? How is it that hearing someone's laughter makes you smile? How does the beating of drums fill you with courage? What is the mechanism at play here? I think the explanation is surprisingly simple and more intuitive than you might think. It's simply because the ear has a direct connection to the heart.
Have you ever tried to watch a modern day movie without the soundtrack? How does it feel? Why is it unnerving? Did you know that movie composers actually refer to the soundtrack of a movie as the "emotion track"? While it is fun to let the music and emotions wash over you, it is also interesting to observe your own reactions to certain portions of a movie and then try actively listening to what's going on in the soundtrack. When was the last time you watched an Alfred Hitchcock movie? Do you remember/notice how he typically has very austere soundtracks, rarely punctuated by anything except of course famous "sound quotes" like from the famed "Psycho" scene? His use of sound serves to give you a much more uneasy and creepy movie (emotion) experience.
Interestingly, in contrast to this, visual media (eg: TV, Film, etc.) because they are processed through the eyes go directly to the brain and often bypass the heart. It is only with the soundtrack/soundscape/laughtrack that they make the heart connection.
Interestingly, in contrast to this, visual media (eg: TV, Film, etc.) because they are processed through the eyes go directly to the brain and often bypass the heart. It is only with the soundtrack/soundscape/laughtrack that they make the heart connection.
With this mechanism in mind, it reassures me to hear that music downloads have finally surpassed porn downloads on the internet. I hope this shows that people are finally becoming sufficiently enlightened, even if it is only on a subconsious level, to realize that they must feed their hearts first. With any luck, these music downloads will not serve only as fast-food for the heart, but will nourish and open people's hearts and minds to all types of music and ways of being. Perhaps it will also help strengthen our hearts in order to fight the fear that is so popularly propagated by the "bad news (porn)" mongers.
Here's a quick experiment you can try at home:
1) Turn on a TV/Video and mute the sound for 60 seconds.
2) Unmute the Video but close your eyes for 60 seconds (no peeking!).
3) Which was easier? Watching TV/Video (#1) or listening to the soundtrack only (#2)
My bet is #2 will be easier/more comfortable. This is a secret that radio producers (and other authorities) know and understand only too well. Do you ever wonder how, if TV is meant to be such a "powerful, new" medium, why "old fashioned" radio is still so readily accessible/available? When politicians say they plan to capture the hearts and minds of the people, that's what they use: Radio and TV, in THAT order of importance! The heart is more powerful than the mind!
I just wish they'd bring those lovely old (or even new) radio dramas back to the air! :D
Here's a quick experiment you can try at home:
1) Turn on a TV/Video and mute the sound for 60 seconds.
2) Unmute the Video but close your eyes for 60 seconds (no peeking!).
3) Which was easier? Watching TV/Video (#1) or listening to the soundtrack only (#2)
My bet is #2 will be easier/more comfortable. This is a secret that radio producers (and other authorities) know and understand only too well. Do you ever wonder how, if TV is meant to be such a "powerful, new" medium, why "old fashioned" radio is still so readily accessible/available? When politicians say they plan to capture the hearts and minds of the people, that's what they use: Radio and TV, in THAT order of importance! The heart is more powerful than the mind!
I just wish they'd bring those lovely old (or even new) radio dramas back to the air! :D
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