El Pueblo Unido
2018 / 13´min
Field recordings
Sennheiser MKH 416 P48 + Edirol R-4 Portable 4-Ch Recorder
Various locations, August 2018.
El Pueblo Unido is the last installment of my triptych dedicated to Bolivia. In this piece, I explore the media I encountered throughout my journey, with a particular focus on radio —a medium with which I have a long-standing connection. Dozens of hours spent listening to diverse stations in the van, watching the landscape change through the window —from the arid plains of the Chaco to the misty cloud forests of the Yungas.
For this project, I attempt to adopt a position of "listening-without," following Mark Peter Wright’s principles on field recordings as outlined in his reference book, Listening After Nature. This approach is pursued despite my Eurocentric viewpoint and an editing/classifying process that is susceptible to biases.
I aim to focus on documenting sounds without necessarily engaging with the subjective experiences of their sources. This perspective emphasizes extraction, observation, and detachment —establishing a clear external standpoint and treating the material as an object of study, rather than as a participant in a reciprocal relationship.
The reason for adopting this approach is rooted in observing today’s media, understanding it as a potential cultural generator with a profound impact on societal values, collective identity, and public opinion. Audiovisual content shapes narratives, influences behaviors, and reflects evolving norms. In conclusion, media not only mirrors society but also actively participates in constructing collective consciousness.