Sound Evidence: an Archaeology of Audio Recording and Surveillance in Popular Film and Media
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Sound Evidence: An Archaeology of Audio Recording and Surveillance in Popular Film and Media by Dimitrios Pavlounis A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Screen Arts and Cultures) in the University of Michigan 2016 Doctoral Committee: Associate Professor Sheila C. Murphy, Chair Emeritus Professor Richard Abel Professor Lisa Ann Nakamura Associate Professor Aswin Punathambekar Professor Gerald Patrick Scannell © Dimitrios Pavlounis 2016 For My Parents ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS My introduction to media studies took place over ten years ago at McGill University where Ned Schantz, Derek Nystrom, and Alanna Thain taught me to see the world differently. Their passionate teaching drew me to the discipline, and their continued generosity and support made me want to pursue graduate studies. I am also grateful to Kavi Abraham, Asif Yusuf, Chris Martin, Mike Shortt, Karishma Lall, Amanda Tripp, Islay Campbell, and Lees Nickerson for all of the good times we had then and have had since. Thanks also to my cousins Tasi and Joe for keeping me fed and laughing in Montreal. At the University of Toronto, my entire M.A. cohort created a sense of community that I have tried to bring with me to Michigan. Learning to be a graduate student shouldn’t have been so much fun. I am especially thankful to Rob King, Nic Sammond, and Corinn Columpar for being exemplary scholars and teachers. Never have I learned so much in a year. To give everyone at the University of Michigan who contributed in a meaningful way to the production of this dissertation proper acknowledgment would mean to write another dissertation-length document. I write these words out of humbling gratitude but with the knowledge that they are insufficient. First, I must thank my incredible dissertation committee. I cannot express how grateful I am for my advisor (and honorary Canadian), Sheila C. Murphy. Sheila is one of the most creative thinkers I have ever met, and our conversations have pushed my work in unexpected directions. She has been everything I could have hoped for in an advisor. iii For the past six years, she has moved deftly between the various roles required of a dissertation chair, all without losing her sense of humor. Sheila has kept me laughing and grounded during this sometimes-exhausting process, and it is her emotional and intellectual labor that made this dissertation possible. Richard Abel’s intimidating scholarly achievements are surpassed only by his patience, generosity, and kindness. From my first day at Michigan, he has consistently gone out of his way to provide me with guidance and invaluable feedback. I continue to be inspired by his intellectual curiosity. The breadth and depth of Aswin Punathambekar’s knowledge never fails to amaze me, and he has pointed me in the direction of many unexpected sources. Perhaps most importantly, he has taught me to be a more generous scholar. Lisa Nakamura joined the University of Michigan after I was finished coursework, but I have nonetheless learned so much from her. She has gone above and beyond to offer me advice and encouragement, and I am indebted to her mentorship. Working with her has made me a markedly better teacher and a more politicized scholar. My writing will always strive to achieve the clarity and purpose that Lisa finds in hers. One of the highlights of my time at Michigan was taking a small three-person seminar with Paddy Scannell. Knowing Paddy has helped me better understand what it means to be human, and I think I am doing a better job of it thanks to him. I look forward to visiting him in England to continue our conversations. Giorgio Bertellini was my first point of contact at Michigan, and he has remained a generous source of support and advice. Caryl Flinn, Yeidy Rivero, Dan Herbert, Matthew Solomon, Johannes von Moltke, Markus Nornes, Hugh Cohen, Candace Moore, Colin Gunckel, Megan Ankerson, Tung-Hui Hu, John Cheney-Lippold, and Derek Vaillant have all contributed to my identity as a scholar and teacher, and I value all of my conversations with them highly. I should only hope that their influence is felt in my work and in my teaching. Special thanks to iv Mark Kligerman for his continued encouragement. Mark’s enthusiasm for teaching and his respect for students are exemplary, as is his kindness. I must also thank Carrie Moore, Marga Schuhwek-Hampel, Mary Lou Chlipala, and Lisa Rohde for their incredible help and support. It is because of them that I was able to navigate the logistical and administrative parts of being a graduate student. Their worth to the department cannot be overstated. Indeed, the same could be said for the SAC librarian Phil Hallman. Once of the saddest parts of finishing my dissertation is the knowledge that wherever I end up next will not have Phil or the Donald Hall Collection. Thanks also to the staff at the Library of Congress, Kathleen Dow at the University of Michigan Special Collections, and Jenny Romero and Marisa Duron at the Margaret Herrick Library. I would also like to extend my thanks to the Rackham Graduate School, whose continued financial support allowed me the time to research and write this dissertation. My colleagues in Screen Arts have made my time at Michigan worthwhile. I could not have asked for a better group of people with whom to spend the last six years. Nancy McVittie, Peter Alilunas, Erin Hanna, Simonetta Menossi and Mike Arnold helped pave the way for the graduate program. Any of its successes are reflection of them. Special thanks especially to Erin for helping me navigate the quagmire of American bureaucracy. Courtney “Coco” Ritter is a brilliant scholar and an endless source of laughter. I look forward to many more game nights with her and her partner, Jeff. Nathan Koob’s boundless energy and optimism always boosted morale. He, perhaps more than any other, understood the value of community and worked hard to make everyone feel welcome. My cohort, Feroz Hassan, always provided a grounded perspective on life and academia when my neuroses started to get the best of me. I will miss our conversations over ice cream in sub-zero temperatures. Ben Strassfeld is setting aside a million- v dollar idea for a Hulk reboot in favor of media history, and academia is better for it. Katy Peplin’s passion for her research and her teaching is inspiring, as is her generosity. I am proud to leave the role of elder Canadian in the hands of Josh Morrison, and I can’t wait to see where his research takes him. Yuki Nakayama is the best happy-hour partner one could ask for, and her presence will be missed as she heads to Japan for research. I will always treasure watching reality TV chat with Kayti Lausch. Along with Katy, she has been instrumental in keeping me on track over the last few months. Richard Mwakasege-Minaya might be the most intimidating Street Fighter player I have ever met, but he also brings a necessary calming presence to the graduate community. Joseph DeLeon, Kaelie Thomson, Marissa Spada, and Vincent Longo make me confident that the department is in good hands. My family has been an unending source of support and encouragement, and joy. My brothers Vasilios and Robert have been terrific travel companions, songwriting partners, level designers, storytellers, and comedians. They are responsible for keeping me young. My parents, Brenda and Terry, are the most loving, most selfless, hardest working people I know. The extent to which they have supported me and trusted me is humbling. They never questioned any of my career choices and have only worked to help me achieve my goals, even if they were never quite certain of exactly what they were. They have always told their friends that I am in school training to be a teacher. I used to correct them, but I now realize that they understood what I was working toward better than I did. I love them immensely, and this dissertation is dedicated to them. I would never have made it though graduate school had it not been for Michelle Thompson. She has been a patient sounding board, rigorous editor, and tireless cheerleader. She has also been an indispensible friend and partner. Spending time with her has been the most fulfilling form of self-care, and I continue to feel energized in her presence. Her curiosity, vi creativity, and kindness are inspiring, and her ability to make me laugh is peerless. The last seven years have been the most fun of my life, and it is thanks to her. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION .............................................................................................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS........................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES..................................................................................................................... ix ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................x INTRODUCTION: The Topic of Audio Surveillance...................................................................1 CHAPTER I The Case of the Detective Dictograph: Voiced Evidence and the Idea of Forensic Sound Recording............................................................................................................................26 II Taming the Tell-Tale Technology: The Visual and Narrative Cultures of the Dictograph .....................................................................................................................................74