Touch
The Rhythm of Pain MP4 File designed in BeepBox.co “Pain produces irregular bleats from the nerves at jagged intervals. Itching produces a fast, regular pattern. Heat produces a crescendo as the area heats up. A little pressure produces a flurry of excitement, then fades, and a stronger pressure just extends the burst of activity.” - Diane Ackerman, A Natural History of The Senses. I am fascinated by the idea of mixing senses and translating one into another. When I read the quote about the patterns of different types of touch, I decided to take on the challenge of reinterpreting the feelings of pain into sound. For "The Rhythm of Pain", I used an online tool for sketching and sharing instrumental melodies called BeepBox. Using BeepBox, I turned each of Ackerman's descriptions of types of pain and touch into its own rhythm. Pain is an irregular, sharp melody. Itching is a fast paced, constant tone. Heat is a swelling, bubbling tune. Light pressure is flurry of sounds.
