Research On The College Students’ Practices In The Media Ecology

Returning to “acoustic space” put forward by Marshall Mc Luhan,a media ecologist,has led to the rise of research on "acoustic turn" among scholars.As a perceptual dimension as important as vision,sense of hearing and sound also help the construction of daily life.Individuals using headphones to do auditory practice,from listening to music or podcasts to communicating on the phone,is fairly common in everyday life,and becomes part of modern soundscape.As typical personal audio equipment,wireless headphones with active noise cancellation,spatial audio and other types of technology not only enhance listening experience,but also change listening behavior and new forms of auditory practice driven by new technology.Individuals use wireless headphones to take control of their listening experience and make new social rules.This paper centered on case studies on private auditory practice of college students using wireless headphones in terms of technology used in wireless headphones,and listening behavior and the psychological demand behind it by means of in-depth interviews and participant observation.Investigating private listening motivations and behavior of college students revealed their auditory practice and examined an aspect of the current soundscape.The study found that wireless headphones with active noise cancellation,virtual acoustic spatial audio,and access to digital ecosystems allow college students to enjoy privacy and mobility in modern daily life,and thus play an important role in their daily auditory practice.These students achieve self-"enhancement" in terms of senses and space when using wireless headphones with different types of technology.At the same time,the algorithm-enabled music streaming services provide emotional playlists and music,allowing college students to “filter” what they are not interested in.The students are able to use their personal auditory media to listen to a wide range of music according to their daily needs,and immersed in their own "acoustic" world any time and any where to engage in an orderly,emotional,and resistant auditory practice with self-management.However,this auditory practice,which symbolizes "autonomy," essentially reflects that individuals are overwhelmed by anxiety and insecurity in modern accelerated society.Media technology has reshaped space and time,and non-linear spatial jump cuts and immediate filling of senses have accelerated the "implosion" of auditory senses.Therefore,the headphones-wearing students are wandering autonomously in the "created" soundscape,in order to break away from exhausting and monotonous daily routines and seek self-liberation,which turns out to be a utopian imagination in the end.This study argues that establishing a connection to "proximity," engaging the senses in practice,and actively participating in social interaction can better achieve a balance between senses and realize self-worth.