17th Annual Student Research Conference
Language & Literature
The Powerful Voice
Alexander D. Johnson
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Simon Frith in “The Voice” puts forth the assertion that the voice is a means of familiarizing oneself with a given personality. The voice paints a picture of the body behind the voice, even if a body does not necessarily exist. We use the voice as a “cover” to the “book” behind the voice. The vocal personalities, nowadays, seem to be tailored to the audience, rather than to the emotional or artistic gravity of a song or performance. The audience lets itself be suckered by these vocal personalities and willingly believes that the attitudes the vocal personalities portray are real, because they want to believe that there is something real behind the music. One inherently possesses power to create an impression, a body, a look, and a personality simply by communicating with his or her own voice, which can have power over the imaginations of an audience.
Keywords: Frith, Voice, Body, Audience, Vocal, Personalities
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 33-4
Location: VH 1320
Time: 3:00