Soundscapes, Owens-Thomas House, Savannah, Georgia, sensory history, sound design, binaural, augmented reality 

This thesis considers the issues of representation that arise in the creation of a designed work based in historical fact. Using the Owens-Thomas House in Savannah, Georgia, as a case study, three historical soundscapes and three modern soundscapes were created to explore the ability of an abstract sonic composition to capture a sense of a space in historical time. The spaces given this acoustic treatment, the kitchen, laundry, and cistern area, a throughway of the basement, represent areas populated by traditionally marginalized populations: slaves and women. Creating an artwork meant to represent historical fact raises many questions of construction, especially when representing a space that is a socially important arena. Therefore, this thesis seeks to explore the potential role of the soundscape in historic representations. This discussion is contextualized within an examination of current uses of soundscapes in academia and the arts, a specific analysis of the role of the historic soundscape, a detailed methodology section describing the creation of the Owens-Thomas Soundscapes, and a discussion assessing the efficacy of these soundscapes. Finally, this thesis provides a prediction for the future role of the historic soundscape in the shifting climate of interpretation and education with the burgeoning of augmented and virtual reality systems. 

https://ecollections.scad.edu/iii/cpro/DigitalItemViewPage.external?lang=eng&sp=1002879&sp=T&sp=Pall%2CRu1000001%40%2CQguzy&suite=def