Hear/Here, Gathering the Commonplace: Towards a New Understanding of Affect and Embodied Encounter through Constructing Non-narrative Sound Installation

Rutter, Ana Gabrielle (2025) Hear/Here, Gathering the Commonplace: Towards a New Understanding of Affect and Embodied Encounter through Constructing Non-narrative Sound Installation. Doctoral thesis, Birmingham Bity University.

Preview

Text Ana Gabrielle Rutter PhD Thesis_Final Version_Final Award June 2025.pdf - Accepted Version Download (1MB)

Abstract

This practice research PhD employs concerns of affect theory, sound/fine art, aural ecologies and emergent praxis, while utilising an embodied crip/neurodivergent approach. Investigating sound and affect through the lens of Masumi’s description of ‘microperceptions’ (from Leibnitz) and linking this to the multifacetedness of aural ecologies. Working with/through gathered materials, exploring initially ‘microperceptions’ as triggers of non-conscious affective response, and through the praxis adding other elements that inform the making of original artworks as sites of affective encounter.

This is a constantly developing, heuristic following, through tests and experimentation for the unfolding of a unique approach to research and creation of fine art works that explore and explicate my/our non-conscious affective response to our quotidian sonic environment. Drawing on Deleuze and Guattari’s Smooth and Striated symbiotic spaces, to create a scaffolding for working with; affecting slippery stuff, this ‘bodymind’, and to maintain the affecting qualities of the materials.

The praxis centres on gathered sounds and images from spaces/situations, where these are less important than the small things that might be occurring within them. The sites/titles of gathering: Early Tests & Experiments, The Cairngorms, Dyffryn, About, Coventry, The Dyffryn Book and Gathering Closer. From these audio-visual works have been constructed and exhibited investigating affect and embodied encounter.

This submission, recognising and exploring the porosity/permeability of sounds/spaces/time/bodies/affects, is a drawing together of materials gathered across the research and considering new knowledge/approaches in an exhibition and Research Catalogue expositions as sites for the thesis, which sets the practice in its research context.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Dates:	Date Event 9 June 2025 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Fine art, sound, affect theory, practice research, embodied encounter, crip/neurodivergent, emergent methodologies
Subjects:	CAH25 - design, and creative and performing arts > CAH25-01 - creative arts and design > CAH25-01-01 - creative arts and design (non-specific) CAH25 - design, and creative and performing arts > CAH25-01 - creative arts and design > CAH25-01-02 - art CAH25 - design, and creative and performing arts > CAH25-01 - creative arts and design > CAH25-01-05 - others in creative arts and design CAH25 - design, and creative and performing arts > CAH25-02 - performing arts > CAH25-02-02 - music
Divisions:	Arts > Art and Design Doctoral Research College > Doctoral Theses Collection
Depositing User:	Louise Muldowney
Date Deposited:	12 Jan 2026 09:44
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2026 09:44
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16793

Actions (login required)

View Item