PP2 – QuakenShake – Katie O

For Pressure Project Two, the assignment was to choose a moment that was culturally impactful for you and tell its story 99% through sound. I chose to do some research on the 1964 earthquake that hit Alaska, which my mom lived through, and pair it with the recent 2018 earthquake that hit right outside of Anchorage. I found clips from the news sources that covered both earthquakes and bounced back and forth between the two as they described the details of the quake and the impact it had on the land and the community.

I put up a variety of photos from both events that were collaged together, showing the buildings and roads that had been destroyed. I felt curious about how distant humanity has become to natural disaster events as we see many of them in the media but do not necessarily experience them ourselves. I remember not thinking that hard about the 1964 earthquake while my mom described her experience, but once I lived through the 2018 earthquake, I began to see the 1964 in a different light. My empathy grew.

Although the recordings were of two different news sources, the audience said they couldn’t necessarily tell until closer to the end that it was bouncing between the two different earthquake experiences. I’m guessing a visual would have supported that side of it, but the audience seemed to eventually put it together with just the image of the old cars and grainy quality.

I received feedback that, although I mentioned my mom and I story at the beginning of the experience, they would have liked to hear more and possibly end it with our story as well. I had plans and notes to give more information, but to be honest and human, I couldn’t quite handle being on a microphone that day. I can also feel a sensitivity to feedback in class right now, which I’m hoping will shift as I continue to get to know the class better. I knew I would be able to hold critique of the piece, but I did not feel confident I could hold critique of my own voice, and I wasn’t sure how deep the group would go that day.

I’m glad we did this project. I like sound and don’t give it the time I wish I would, so I’m glad I was pushed into it. I think we covered some important aspects of experience while creating and participating in this project.