Week 6: Response to “Homecoming” (Matthew Fertig)

I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a full podcast before, so everything about “Homecoming” was new for me. My first observation was how well the creators were able to incorporate familiar sounds to help us envision the setting and actions of the characters. Without any visual element, they’re able to set the tone solely through tone of voice and audio effects. They utilize heavily varying qualities in audio to indicate when they’re on the phone, recording a voice memo, or just partaking in a normal conversation. This allows us to imagine a change in setting and picture exactly what the scene aims to capture. One of the most fascinating elements to me was the ability to cue us into flashbacks so effortlessly. By abruptly changing the settings between scenes one and two and referencing the information introduced in the previous scene, we are able to interpret a change in time. They also utilize the ‘warp-like’ sound indicative of a flashback, letting us know directly that we are changing both time and place. Lastly, the use of music in the podcast sets a serious tone, providing us another element to indicate the feeling of the story.

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