Silence in art functions as medium for listener’s own creative imagination

Evidence

For Johnson silence is not a goal in itself but a medium through which the mind of the listener can achieve its potential as a creator of personal music. — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 242

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels: The Quest for Absolute…, 242
• XREF: connects to: Creative thought requires an initial silence that clears prior mental assumptions — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels: The Quest for Absolute…, 453; The idea of an absolute silence functions as a necessary reset point for thought — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels: The Quest for Absolute…, 531; Silence resets the audience’s mental frame before a performance can begin — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels: The Quest for Absolute…, 257 (+20 more)

Library Connections

• The brain amplifies internal noise so total silence cannot be perceived #contradicts (0.80) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 609

Broader Connections

• The brain’s evolved vigilance actively forecloses the possibility of true silence #contradicts (0.78)
• The act of hearing itself may make true absolute silence unattainable #contradicts (0.78) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 526
• The idea of an absolute silence functions as a necessary reset point for thought #expands (0.75) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 531
• Total sensory absence can feel generative rather than merely frightening #corroborates (0.75) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 496
• The act of hearing itself makes total sensory silence unattainable #contradicts (0.75) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 526
• Silence takes its meaning from surrounding sound #expands (0.75) — Schafer, Murray R, The Soundscape- Our Sonic Environment…, 864
• Silence resets the audience’s mental frame before a performance can begin #qualifies (0.72) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 257
• Creative thought requires an initial silence that clears prior mental assumptions #qualifies (0.70) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 453
• Perfect silence as an unattainable absolute still functions as real and necessary #qualifies (0.70)
• Extreme physical silence can produce deep restfulness rather than only distress #corroborates (0.70) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 496
• Listening inclusively can fold one’s own thoughts into the sounded environment #expands (0.70) — Pauline Oliveros, Deep Listening, 184
• Silence is a positive presence rather than mere absence #corroborates (0.70) — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 1294
• The unattainable ideal of absolute silence is necessary to resist noise’s control #qualifies (0.68) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 616
• Silence carries deeper meaning and value than speech does. #qualifies (0.65) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 16
• Perceptual listening involves attending to sounds not yet present. #corroborates (0.60) — Pauline Oliveros, Deep Listening, 382