Public Radio Redux

Why the opening minutes feel sideways

The piece runs 34 minutes and is put together more like sound art than like documentary. The narrative thread is not immediately apparent, and anyone waiting for a host to explain what is happening will keep waiting. The Third Coast description is the practical key: read it before pressing play, then let storytelling fall by the wayside and take the audio the way you would take modern art.

Two checks worth making first

• Set aside the whole 34 minutes in one sitting — the work asks for a re-orientation of the ear rather than for a highlight reel.
• Use headphones if the room is noisy; the swings between surprising precociousness and total immaturity are easier to follow when nothing competes with them.

Expect to be left guessing, which is precisely what the piece is doing on purpose. The photo that runs with the entry is credited to Jose Maria Cuellar, via Flickr and Creative Commons, so the original set can be traced from there. Between episodes, one side tab often stays on a9 login, a short way into a games menu.