Text — Kate Donovan

Nightcall Radio.
Radio-anthropocene entanglements

Donovan, Kate. “Nightcall Radio. Radio–anthropocene entanglements.” Fusion Journal, no. 19, 2021, pp. 132-144.

First published online: March 2021

Abstract
This essay begins the work of unpicking radio-anthropocene entanglements, in an effort to think and do them otherwise. I use the concept of expanding radio to open out the notion of radio to include human and more-than-human electromagnetic signals and argue that by drawing upon practices of expanded listening, more-than-human radio ecologies can be revealed, thus enabling a constructive move beyond the anthropocene.[1] I consider magnetite a material embodiment of radio-anthropocene entanglements; anthropogenic magnetite is produced by traffic fumes and can affect human memory, while biogenic magnetite can be found in migrating organisms to aid wayfinding. I conclude by bringing all of these issues together in describing the radio art piece Nightcall Radio.

Keywords
Radio ecologies, more-than-human anthropocene, expanded listening, radio art, magnetite, otherwise

grounded listening with extended bodies

Donovan, Kate. “Listening to the Universe - Radiophonien des Alls. grounded listening with extended bodies.” NachtGärtnern I-III. Radiophonien des Alls. Dokumentation 2019/2020. Datscha Radio, Berlin 2020, pp. 32-37.

Listening beyond radio, listening beyond history. A proposal for alternative radio histories.

Donovan, Kate.”Listening beyond radio, listening beyong history. A proposal for alternative radio histories. Seismograf Journal.FOKUS: SONIC ARGUMENTATION II,
18. DECEMBER 2019. DOI HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.48233/SEISMOGRAF2305

Peer-reviewed Audio Paper
First published online: December 2019

Abstract
This paper argues that the documented history of human interaction with radio is a matter to be unravelled, and pirated. The ‘first documented radio listening experience’ is questioned, and followed by the proposal for alternative radio histories – that disrupt, critique, and reach beyond the usual masculine, Western, ‘modern’ tellings of this era.

Interweaving scientific research into the capabilities of human hearing, with the often spectacular occurrences of natural radio (such as the Auroras, lightning and meteorites entering the earth’s atmosphere), this audio paper takes seriously Donna Haraway’s statement: ‘It matters which stories tell stories’ (2016), and therefore purposefully entangles radio history with feminist, postcolonial, and speculative tellings of the past.

Here, the notion of listening is used in an expanded sense, and as such is posited as a way to pay attention to – and foster care and respect for – not just the voices, sounds and gestures which often go unnoticed, but also the possible histories.

Keywords
#Listening #Postcolonial and Feminist Histories #Piracy #Multiple Narratives #Natural Radio

Nightcall Radio.
Radio-anthropocene entanglements

grounded listening with extended bodies

Listening beyond radio, listening beyond history. A proposal for alternative radio histories.

📻

☄️

⚡️

Nightcall Radio. Radio-anthropocene entanglements

grounded listening with extended bodies

Listening beyond radio, listening beyond history. A proposal for alternative radio histories.

📻

☄️

⚡️

Nightcall Radio.
Radio-anthropocene entanglements