Podcast: sound emission, future of radio and cyberculture

André Lemos

André Lemos Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA)

Abstract

In his "theories of radio" from 1932, Brecht sought to transform the radio into a bi-
directional communication instrument, making each listener a producer of information.
Brecht wanted a "rebellion on the part of the eye, his activation and rehabilitation as a
producer." For the German playwright, "broadcasting must consequently be separated
from those who supply it and constitute its listeners as suppliers." His dream, his utopia
of rehabilitating listeners as producers, seems to come true with the global phenomenon
of podcasts. Although it is not like the radio we know today, with centralized
broadcasting and massive broadcasting of streaming programs, podcasting uses the
format and metaphor to make anyone a producer of sound emissions. This is yet another
expression of cyberculture as liberation from the emission pole.

Author Biography

André Lemos, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA)

André Lemos é escritor, Professor Titular da Faculdade de Comunicação (FACOM) da Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA) e Pesquisador 1A do CNPq. Doutor em Sociologia pela Université René Descartes, Paris V, Sorbonne (1995). Pós-doutorado nas Universidades McGill e Alberta (Canadá), National University of Ireland (Irlanda) e TIDD-PUC-SP (São Paulo). É coordenador do Lab404 - Laboratório de Pesquisa em Mídia Digital, Redes e Espaço (http://lab4040.ufba.br) do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comunicação e Cultura Contemporâneas (http://poscom.ufba.br) da FACOM/UFBA. Membro do Comitê Gestor do Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Democracia Digital (INCTDD). Membro Titular da Academia Baiana de Ciências.

References

BBC. Next, iTunes will support podcasts at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4575075.stm.
Brecht, Bertold. Teorías de la Radio. Ed. Península, Barcelona, 1973.,
http://www.eptic.com.br/Brecht.pdf.

Bruno, Antony. Podcasting lures wary music biz., in Reuters.,
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=8761417.
Dotinga, R. Radio Sets Eyes on Podcast Profit., in Wired.,
http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,67809,00.html?tw=wn_1culthead.
Kennedy, Randy. With Irreverence and an iPod, Recreating the Museum Tour, New
York Times, available in
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/28/arts/design/28podc.html?ex=1274932800&en=d1c
6d7073dcc036&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss (28/05/2005)
Kharif, Olga. Need a Lift? Try a Godcast at
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2005/tc20050525_0375_tc_211.
html.
Koman, R. Why your podcast is probably already illegal., in SiliconValleyWatcher.com,
http://www.siliconvalleywatcher.com/mt/archives/2005/03/why_your_podcas.php
Lemos, A. Cunha, P. Olhares sobre a Cibercultura. Porto Alegre, Sulina, 2003.
Newitz, Annalee., Ipod Radio star., in Wired., The End of Radio (as we know it).,
March 2005, pp.111-113.
Rezende, Emerson., O que (já) vale a pena baixar e ouvir., in Informática, Terra,
http://informatica.terra.com.br/interna/0,,OI501127-EI553,00.html
Fletcher, E., Podcast Music Licensing Not as Financially Daunting as Bloggers
Surmise?, available in Blawgzine.,
http://www.newcommblogzine.com/blog/_archives/2005/3/14/432177.htm