Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Richard Gonzaga, and I am currently a freshman at Florida State University with an intended major in Nursing. An active member of the Honors program, Service Scholars program, and UROP, my goal is to graduate with a BSN and eventually earn an MSN at FSU.

Sounds of the Wonder City

Abstract

Across the world, music is a part of our lives. The sonic environment plays a big role in our whole environment, and this presence of "sonic environments" poses a question: How does sound affect the individual experience? "Sounds of the Wonder City" is a case study that builds upon this question with a great focus on how the city center of La Paz, Bolivia has fostered a sonic relationship with its residents. Along the way, research and literature review has revealed that behavioral, cognitive, and many other patterns exist in individuals exposed to music or specific sounds. Our project relies on ethnographic, musicological, and sound studies research to explore the relationship between an individual's sonic environment and their own personal values, choices, and identities.

Keywords: Sounds, Music, Environment, Bolivia