Reading Russolo’s “The Art of Noise” made me think about sound in a completely new way. I never realized how much modern life is filled with noises that we usually ignore, and how those noises could actually be used as art. I connected to his excitement about industrial sounds and the raw energy they carry. His descriptions of sounds from the city like the engines rumbling, doors sliding, crowds murmuring made me want to listen more closely to the world around me, instead of tuning it out. It made me think about how I should stop using my headphones for one day to be more present listening for sounds I usually do not pay attention to because I prefer my music from my phone when commuting.

What I really liked was how bold he was in saying that we’re “fed up” with traditional music and that noises could be more interesting than hearing the same symphonies over and over. I admire that rebellious energy. I also loved the idea that noise brings us back to life, because it’s raw, unpredictable, and part of our real environment.

What I didn’t like was how harsh he was about traditional music. Despite the authors point of view, I think there’s still beauty in classical sounds, even if they’re familiar.