Empire of Sounds 2005
Distributed by Films Media Group, 132 West 31st St., 17th Floor, New York, NY 10001; 800-257-5126
Producer n/a
Director n/a
DVD, color, 52 min.
Sr. High – General Adult
Business, Popular Culture, Science
Date Entered: 12/21/2011
Reviewed by Brad Eden, Ph.D., Dean of Library Services, Valparaiso UniversityThis video examines the complex world of consumerism, media, and product development all wrapped into one. Sound design in product development is an interesting yet little-known part of consumerism, one that is meant to be psychological and subconscious. The opening of a water bottle, the sound of buttons on a computer, the noise made by the closing and opening of various types of products: all of these are not just happenstance, they are intentional and designed to give a kind of acoustic signature to a product. The consumerism of sound is just as intense and robust as media marketing, and this film shows just how detailed and complex this industry is. I personally never thought about these quick and often subliminal sounds made by products, but after viewing this video, I now know that consumerism of products is even more designed than I ever imagined.