Hooked on Sonics: Experimenting with Sound in 19th-Century Popular Science
9 days ago
- #Victorian culture
- #acoustics
- #19th-century science
- 19th-century popular science books transformed the understanding of sound through accessible experiments like Chladni figures.
- These books democratized science, encouraging families to conduct experiments at home, blending education with entertainment.
- Sound was seen not just scientifically but also spiritually, linking acoustic experiments to transcendental and mystical ideas.
- Authors like Arabella Buckley and Alfred Marshall Mayer emphasized playful learning, intertwining beauty with scientific discovery.
- The Victorian era's 'ensoniment' marked a cultural shift towards valuing and cultivating the sense of hearing.
- Popular science books anticipated modern educational theories by promoting joy, curiosity, and hands-on learning.
- The materiality of sound inspired speculative ideas about its spiritual and cosmic significance, reflecting broader Victorian interests.