Social History of Sound: Documenting an Auditory Heritage
This project aims to document and represent the social history of sound by offering an interactive experience of the Zanjan Bazaar. Through a combination of documentary photography and ethnographic elements with ambient sounds, it allows the audience to scroll through images and access a dynamic and living soundscape of this historical space. The Zanjan Bazaar is one of Iran’s traditional markets that has largely preserved its spatial structure and social and economic functions. Established during the era of Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar (230 years ago), the bazaar is significant not only for its unique architecture and economic history but also for its value as a stable auditory environment. Unlike many urban spaces that have gradually undergone changes in their sound environment, Zanjan Bazaar still carries echoes of the past, closely resembling the way people interacted in its early days.
This project, inspired by Raymond Murray Schafer’s theories in the field of Soundscape, explores and documents the sounds of the Zanjan Bazaar. Schafer divides environmental sounds into three main categories:
- Keynote Sounds: This category includes background and stable environmental sounds that are often heard unconsciously, such as the continuous hum of people and the sound of footsteps on cobblestones. These sounds shape the auditory identity of a space and usually exist in the background without conscious attention from individuals.
- Sound Signals: This group includes sounds produced to attract attention. In the Zanjan Bazaar, examples include the cries of merchants advertising goods, the sound of a ladle striking a pot by food vendors, or the call to prayer from the mosque in the market. These sounds define the social interactions and daily activities within the space.
- Soundmarks: These sounds are unique and identifiable, only heard in a specific place. The distinctive sound of traditional baths in the Zanjan Bazaar, the way artisans call their apprentices in the shops, or the special melodies some vendors use to announce their goods, fall into this category. These sounds are the sonic signature of the Zanjan Bazaar and reflect its cultural identity.
By documenting these sounds alongside relevant photographs, a precise soundscape of the Zanjan Bazaar can be drawn. In the modern era, with the advent of new technologies, many traditional sounds are at risk of being forgotten or lost. Although the traditional structure of the Zanjan Bazaar remains intact, gradual changes in business patterns, the introduction of motorcycles, and alterations in the architecture of the shops may lead to the loss of some of the bazaar’s auditory heritage. This project seeks to preserve the soundscape of the Zanjan Bazaar through its documentation of these sounds.
This project is not just an auditory recording of the Zanjan Bazaar but also a narrative of social history, human interactions, and the resilience of local traditions against modern changes. Through the combination of images and sounds, the collection allows the audience to experience history not only with their eyes but also with their ears.
