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Like most everyone I know, I wish the war in Iraq could have been resolved by diplomatic means. As I write this, we’re in the middle of week two of Gulf War 2, and, like many of you, I’m trying to make sense of what’s happening. What does this have to do with sound healing, you might ask? The easy answer is, sound healing is concerned with creating peace and harmony within an individual, and on the earth. Another answer is, that the opposite of sound healing is sound warfare ... and there’s a lot of that going on right now. From the bombs bursting in air, to the sky-shattering, ear drum shattering roar of military jets, explosions, there’s never been a time we need more sound healing than right now. Groups are singing, toning, drumming, crystal bowling for peace. Individuals are listening to more peace-evoking music than they normally do — at the same time that it may be getting harder and harder to find healing, peaceful music in your local chain stores or specialty shops. But more than that, you may have noticed that there’s more “other” kinds of music on TV now. Every newscast, every alert, every special feature seems to come with its own embedded theme song. How might that be affecting you? Does your pulse quicken as the by now familiar soundtrack heralds the latest update? Or is there a larger musico-cultural phenomenon at play? Call it karma, luck or whatever, but I had the honor and privilege of studying with one of the foremost authorities on the psychology and sociology of mass communications and modern culture when I attended the University of Buffalo. My faculty advisor was Prof. Edgar Z. Friedenberg, who had been a colleague of the legendary Marshall McLuhan. I wondered, is “the medium (still) the message,” as McLuhan postulated? How does TV and the Internet affect how we react to the war? As I was organizing my thoughts on this perspective, I took a break to eat lunch and scan the latest issue of Village Voice, which had just arrived in my mailbox. Much to my astonishment, I turned to a feature article with virtually the same title as this column, and which raised many of the same points as I had. Not only that, but the author had obviously done his homework; I believe his insights are well worth considering, and reading in their entirety. If you can’t find a copy, check out their website at www.villagevoice.com. So hats off to Richard Goldstein, who writes in the March 26-April l issue: “On TV, the content of coverage is not the key to its meaning. The real spin lies in the flow of imagery and its impact on the imagination ...” Goldstein brings up the term “hyper-reality” which he defines as the confluence of the virtual and the real, but which is, in fact, fiction presenting itself as fact. Does the awesome splendor of the explosions over Baghdad outdo the best fireworks, movie or video game? What’s new, asserts Goldstein, is that there is an aura of intimacy this time, which is a result of the low-resolution imagery of videophones and night vision cameras. “The visual plane is flattened, the voices of reporters crackle, the image breaks up into pixilated squares. It’s the cubism of postmodern combat. “And like cubism, low-res forces the viewer to fill in the semiotic blanks. Gaze at these images long enough and you enter a semi-rational state. Your mind may find it offensive but your senses say sit back and enjoy The Shock and Awe Show.” I’ve spoken to so many people who have said, “I couldn’t stop watching. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen.” This may help explain why. In early biofeedback studies on relaxation, it was discovered that staring at a hazy blue field was an effective technique. Does the beige haze of the desert create a similar response? Goldstein continues: “The low-res aesthetic has yet to reveal its true impact. The dreamlike trance it promotes could be a new basis for empathy.” So it’s not just what we watch that affects us, it’s the actual effect of the electronic media that affects us as well. That’s before we consider the opinions and statements of former generals, current generals, embedded reporters or whomever else fills up the 24/7 coverage. But it’s not just the low-res images that are having a subliminal effect on our consciousness. Like millions around the world, I watched most of the Academy Awards. I was struck by the Kodak Theater’s Babylonian themed decor that looked like a scene out of a Cecil B. DeMille epic — or an Iraqi presidential palace. What do you think that message was? How to cope with Media Overload Take a deep breath. Unplug. Get outside among big trees or bodies of water. Go inside ... assemble your special peace collection of music that brings you back into balance, and listen ... even if only for five minutes at a time. Listen with headphones. Listen with your eyes closed. Instead of popping pills, do this four times a day, and call me in the morning. Yours for inner and outer peace, Steven Halpern Steven Halpern is one of the world's leading composers of music for healing, wellness, and inner peace. His latest recordings include PERFECT ALIGNMENT, featuring Grammy award winner Paul McCandless, and INNER PEACE II, with Madeleine Singer. Look for them at Borders, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, your neighborhood independent retailer, or online at www.innerpeacemusic.com. For a free catalogue call 1-800-909-0707 |
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