This sound and image resonated with me because I wanted to capture the feeling of kenopsia, which is strongly linked to the atmosphere of liminal spaces. Liminal spaces, which are transitional places, often create a feeling of uncertainty and being disconnected. I was trying to recreate that sensation you get when you’re wandering alone, and everything feels a little off, or even nostalgic. It’s a hard feeling to describe, but it’s the one I get when I’m staring out the car window on a cool fall night, lost in thought, or when I’m walking around an empty campus at night with my music on.
This meaning is enhanced when you put the image and audio together as the audio brings the eerie vibe to complement the dark and spacious parking garage. When you put these together it can possibly recreate the feelings that I once felt before. There is a bit of an anxious feeling when looking at the picture and listening to parts of the audio. Especially because I hear a sort of footsteps and some kind of echo. The music isn’t too dark either because this feeling isn’t supposed to be scary. Its supposed to be comforting and reminiscent of those sleepless nights.
Hi Heather,
First off, I really enjoyed your pairing of the image and audio. The image itself does have a bit of an unsettling vibe, and I can definitely see how it embodies the feeling of a liminal space, as you mentioned. It’s great how you’ve captured that sense of uncertainty and disconnection.
The music you chose adds an interesting layer to this – it conveys a feeling of confusion or even urgency, which complements the empty, spacious parking lot. It’s intriguing that you didn’t choose a darker, more eerie sound, and I think that’s what makes your pairing stand out. The music strikes a balance between unease and nostalgia, which adds complexity to the overall atmosphere.
I do wonder if there are any other sounds you might explore that could bring out a more eerie vibe without overwhelming the nostalgic feeling. It would be interesting to hear how a more haunting sound could shift the mood, but I also really appreciate the direction you’ve taken here.
Great job overall,
Hi Heather! This was such an interesting direction to go in. I’ve always been drawn to the ominous, I grew up watching Law & Order (but am morally against the True Crime market) and am a horror movie frequenter. I have to say this combination did evoke more anxiety to me, the music sounding like something you may hear in a chase scene. Though, to be fair, I’m unsure if there’s any audio that could make the image of a parking garage at night comforting or nostalgic to me. If I were to attempt this, it would probably be an audio clip of an audience all leaving a concert, or maybe a crowd watching fireworks. Nice work on this post!
Hey Heather,
My initial reaction to your image was that this is absolute nightmare fuel, bad things happen in dark empty parking garages and we should proceed quickly to the vehicle or nearest entrance. Then paired with the music, it enhanced that creepy feeling I was having. Separately I think the audio may have gone a different direction because the way the music starts nice and I could see where it might fit a wanderer, but once it hits that 12 seconds and that other sound starts and it for me builds an uneasy urgency. Combined together the image is certainly enhanced by the audio, the way you described it as eerie, anxious, and reminiscent of sleepless nights are spot on for me, but that reminiscence is not of comforting nights. If I were to select a different audio clip I would add some laughter, lots of people or something that transforms that image that says even though it looks like you’re along here you aren’t, or maybe something more calming like birds early in the morning because you had to crash in your car after the best concert of your life.
Thanks!
Kiani