When reading the Unfinished Business: A Conversation on Sound Art in the UK, a transcript of a conversation between Adam Parkinson and David Toop (the latter being the interviewee), I was able to understand better what separates the British understanding of what sound art is from other perspectives. David Toop, previously a Professor of Audio Culture and Improvisation here at LCC, is known for drawing connections between sound, listening, music, and physical art, and crossing the boundaries of how these themes interact with each other.

Sound art or, as Toop and other proponents of its scene in the 1970s would rather call it, “sound work”. The term “sound work” was preferred as it detached those involved in the practice from the art world and from music. This provokes the question; what is wrong with the art world? The most obvious answer is the exclusivity and eliteness associated with the art world. However, as time has progressed, in 2021 art is so much more understood and accessible that its become a lot more inclusive, and perhaps more comfortable to associate with the term “art”. However, exclusion and extortion still loom over the world of art. Though it could be debated that the prices of particular art pieces, exhibitions and experiences is only fair for the value of time and dedication that the artist(s) have put into their projects, there is zero doubt that this creates an immediate barrier, drawing a line of exclusivity.

Toop creates a very reasonable argument for detaching from the term “art”, but why then call it “work”? For me, the word “work” brings up thoughts of necessity rather than enjoyment, like being forced to do a job. Jobs, for the most part, require certain levels of skill, which, on the topic of exclusivity, could infer that skill is required to create sound art. This goes against my personal ethos, that art is one of our most innate functions, meaning that everyone has the ability to create it. On the flip side, the thoughts of “necessity” that were brought up could show that what differentiates sound art from music and the art world, is that sound art needs to have a purpose. Though Toop did not say this, its a nice thought to wonder on.

What Toop goes on to explain, is that in his practice of sound work compared to art, there is more value of the journey of the creation, rather than the outcome. This just goes to show, its up to you what sound art means to you, or whatever you call your practice, no matter what it may be branded as to others.