PROJECT PRESENTATION POSTER
Tim Bagnara S3197089
At the inception of this project I had 2 general ideas as to what informal urban practices I was going to study for the remainder of the semester. The first was an exploration of advertising in the uban environment and whether I could develop an informal urban practice around the appropriation of such advertising, Although I conducted some experiments involving using stickers I had made which I stuck on billboards around to cbd to change the meaning of the advertising message to something with social meaning, drawing attention to the constant bombardment of advertising we recieve while in the urban environment. However, I chose not to to pursue this and concentrate on my other project concept which was involved in music in urban space and specifically the decline in the use of the boom box and the rise of headphones for personal music players.
Boom box with outer casing removed for the first time.
Removing original tape deck wires using a soldering iron.
The typical 3 wires found in headphone cables. Left, right and ground.
The completed modification with the casing still removed.
The finished boom box in action at a public workshop/demonstration.
After researching old tech and the modification of these units such as the boom box, I discovered a method of replacing the wires of a tape deck component of a boom box with a headphone jack they can be easily made compatible with any modern personal music player with a headphone jack. I proptly converted an old boombox I had found, which also needed it’s battery pack replaced, to test whether the concept’s accessibility and relative ease for someone with limited knowledge. Although a basic understanding of electronics is needed, it is a very simple process even for someone without past training or experience. Once I had the completed unit I set about combining this technical reclaimation of old tech with the revival of the use of the boom box and boom box culture. To gauge the public attiture I participated in the informal urban practice myself and documenting and analysing the results and interviewing people about their use of personal music players while at the same time inviting the interviewee to play music of their choice through my boom box. At this stage I found that most people were supportive of broadcasting personal music in the urban environment and were interested in other people’s musical interests and the social aspects.
Exploration interview at the state library with respondent.
Individual exploration using the combination of music and sport (basketball)
Individual exploration on the city circle tram.
Individual exploration, CBD courts district.
Individual exploration Victoria Market.
Once I had the completed unit I set about combining this technical reclaimation of old tech with the revival of the use of the boom box and boom box culture. To gauge the public attiture I participated in the informal urban practice myself and documenting and analysing the results and interviewing people about their use of personal music players while at the same time inviting the interviewee to play music of their choice through my boom box. At this stage I found that most people were supportive of broadcasting personal music in the urban environment and were interested in other people’s musical interests and the social aspects. The final stage of my project was to promote, demonstrate, and celebrate this informal urban practice. The method I used was to have a free workshop/demonstration of the modification and invite the public to either bring me their own boom box to convert or observe myself converting another person’s unit. I feel that this project has merit in the fact that it is combining a technical skill and reuse of an obselete technology for a modern purpose, which then can be used to revive the lost urban ambience of the boom box culture. The public workshops meant I had the chance to complete the modification on multiple other units.
These are the multiple headphone jack wires I made for the workshop.
The transport/workbench construction showing the work surface.
In Carlton Gardens with a stranger interested in my boom box at a workshop
A mod in process with a boom box that had been brought along by a stranger.
The assorted tools and materials I was required to assemble for the worshops.