Auditory Cultural Studies on Binaural Media Technology and Aurality: from the 1960s to the present

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K02201
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Art at large
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan University (2016-2018); Chubu University (2015)
• Principal Investigator: Fukuta Takanari 首都大学東京, 人文科学研究科, 准教授 (60736320)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 聴覚文化論 / 表象文化論 / 両耳聴 / メディア / 聴覚

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we first analyzed binaural studies in the 1870 to 80's, as typified by S. P. Thompson, to clarify their characteristics. This period is regarded as the "Origin" of listening to stereo records which spread in the latter half of the 20 century. Next, the change which the transition from mono to stereo gave to the movie was examined and analyzed, especially taking the movie 'Shin Godzilla' (2016) as an example. In addition, we interviewed speaker developers, recording engineers, and music magazine editors to hear their practical thoughts on the impact of binaural media technology on music production and playback.

Free Research Field

聴覚文化論

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

両耳聴メディア技術は、現在にいたるまで広範に普及する聴覚メディアの一様式である。本研究は、この両耳聴メディア技術を、技術・科学・聴取実践の交点にあらわれる特殊な「聴覚性」の問題として扱ったという点で、新規な学術的意義を持つ。加えて、技術の当事者たるエンジニア等へのインタビューを記録したことは、この技術を社会との交点において考察することへと通じるものであり、狭義の学術に閉じることのない、社会的意義を有すると考える。