Abstract (eng)
The purpose of this study is to explore how soundwalking can be used as a method to understand relationships between people and the environment, and to propose a methodology for soundwalking. My approach follows the work of Sumartojo and Pink in their understanding of knowing in, about and through atmospheres (Atmospheres and the experiential world: theory and methods, 2019). The analysis is based on three case studies. Two of them focused on the spatiality of sonic atmospheres and were conducted in two parks: Volksgarten in Vienna and Superkilen Park in Copenhagen. The third case study was carried out distantly during the COVID-19 pandemic without a regional focus, studying the temporality of atmospheres. I explored three types of soundwalking: soundwalking as a researcher, soundwalking with research participants and independent soundwalking without the researcher. By examining the soundwalking experiences in depth, I draw conclusions in regard to adjustments in methodology. By analysing the individual cases, I show how researching in and about sonic atmospheres sheds light onto how people perceive and give meaning to their environment, and is a gateway to knowing through atmospheres. Furthermore, the findings show how knowing through sonic atmospheres enables the investigation of the conditions in which atmospheres emerge, and abstract concepts and large-scale issues that become evident through atmospheres. As a result of the study, I present relevant considerations for soundwalking and propose a methodology for soundwalking.