An (In Progress) Auditory Guide to Chicago
Your living situation dictates more in most people’s lives than is realized. Walkability, for example. Many people live in communities with sidewalks and safe schools and children walking alone, while others have no sidewalks, unsafe schools, and an eerie silence in the street from lack of community. The ability to walk to school, the local coffee shop, the grocery store, and public transportation increases not only the social capital of neighborhoods but the level of activity as well. Those who live in walkable communities live a generally more active life than those who do not. As Malchik states, humans have evolved to walk,” Humans in modern times are meant to use their feet, we are meant to participate in our communities, we are meant to wander and roam and take in all that there is to see and hear and touch. While physical health may improve from walkability and community, so will mental health, as stated in the article, “Walking for just 30 minutes five days a week has been shown to have a significant impact on everything from obesity to depression and colon cancer.” Despite all the amazing benefits of walking, many things pose a threat to the casual stroll or walking to a destination. The largest threat, in my opinion, is the rise in the demand for instant gratification by humans all over the world. Apps like Uber, Instacart, Amazon, and DoorDash all are perfect examples of what I mean by this. Humans seek their end goal as quickly as possible. When people get hungry they no longer walk to the local shops or restaurants, instead, they order their food to their home to save time and the “hassle” of in-person interactions. I believe Malchik and the narrator would tell us to be active in our quest to reclaim places for walking. The simple act of going out for a walk increases walkability and community, every single person makes a difference in their own community. I walk down Kenmore Ave. The trees, sidewalks, other people, and beautiful scenery all contribute to making this street walkable. (347)
In my field guide, I want to explore the sounds of Chicago at night. I want to tell the story of two cities, one busting with people and noise, one quieter and darker and much less busy. The contrast between Chicago during the day and during the night is a stark one. The city at night is very different in more ways than just the light. The quietness of the streets, the reflection of lights off of buildings and sculptures allow you to see the city in an entirely new way. I love Chicago, but one of the things that can overwhelm me is the sound. I love the quiet, and there isn’t much of that in the city. The duality of the city both visually and auditorially shows two completely different sides of the same place that can both be so wonderful. I hope my field guide and map provide my reader with a new perspective and appreciation for the city.
“By 1.30am, we had found our way to Chinatown, radiant with neon glare, and still thronged with strings of bodies weaving through the streets. It was time to sit down and take stock with bowls of noodle soup.”
The light specifically in this image is something that stands out to me. The reflections of the signs are something that always stands out to me when walking at night. Showing the relaxation and new perspective that the night can bring to our attention. My field guide will connect by also pointing out sights only visible at night and how to appreciate and observe them.
“For me, it was a reminder of what I had lost in my everyday use of the city: a sense of wonder, an openness to serendipity.”
Being open to relaxation and serendipity allows us to fully experience new places and experiences in our life. The author points out how many people get used to the city and therefore do not appreciate it like they used to. My field guide will connect by also pointing this out and leading the reader to a new appreciation of the city.
Benjamin, Marina. “Cities Thrive When Public Space Is Open to All: Aeon Essays.” Aeon, Aeon Magazine, 25 Jan. 2021, https://aeon.co/essays/cities-thrive-when-public-space-is-open-to-all.
“Go for a walk outside, he advised, but make it a point to head out in the direction that seems the most quiet. Keep going until you find the quietest spot in your vicinity that you can. Now stop and be in that place. ‘Take a moment to absorb it,””
Seeking quiet in a place like Chicago can be hard, but the quiet often brings peace and finally rids us of any and all distractions. The author points out how silence and quiet can bring you to new places and see these places, whether new or familiar, in a new way. He means to show the reader a new perspective. In my field guide, I will point out the harm of distractions in addition to the harm of constant noise. I want to form a new relationship between my reader, the city, and sound.
Walker, Rob. “The Art of Noticing: Five Ways to Experience a City Differently.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 9 May 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/may/09/the-art-of-noticing-five-ways-to-experience-a-city-differently.
