David Carr was a journalist who wrote about journalism and the media, and then he died last week.
Here is a really great profile he wrote that captures a lot of the uglier sides of the internet and new media. It is super deadpan take-down of a man that is a piece of shit.
When I think of a podcast- I immediately think of my grandfather sitting, reading the paper and listening to NPR. During the podcasts the narrator is the host so naturally, they are present and contributing thoughts and ideas about the topic that was being discussed for that segment. But, with Sarah Koenig’s Serial podcast, her presence in each episode is present, however the argument is how much is she holding back for the listeners, more specifically, how much is she alongside the readers?
Have you ever been sitting peacefully on your bed in your room, when your mother or father enters unexpectedly with a demoralizing speech at hand about how you failed to do a simple chore like taking out the trash or cleaning the cat’s litter-box? If you do, try to remember their tone of voice. It wasn’t pleasant, was it? In cases such as this, an authority figure uses inflections in his or her vo
ice in order to inspire feelings of negativity, guilt, and sorrow in their audience (you). Although in this case the use of the voice is being used to carry out a punishment, it is used in an unbelievable variety, everywhere you look.
When a movie producer scouts talent for a movie, they study the ability of actors and actresses to use their facial expressions, body expressions, and voices. Just like parts of the body, the voice is an expressive tool used to display an unlimited amount of emotions and feelings. This is something that Sarah Koenig uses to her advantage in Serial. Koenig’s inclusion of various characters and their voices allows her listeners to hear the emotions of her subjects in the truest nature. The audience of Serial needs little imagination in order to comprehend and enjoy the podcast fully. But does Sarah do this in order to establish a story that’s unique, or is it just her intention to project her own feelings to the story? Continue reading
After finishing Serial and doing some further research on the podcast, I have come to realize how effective it truly is. What do I mean by effective? I mean to say that despite a small budget, mountains of doubt and a seemingly straightforward case, Sarah Koenig was able to make something from nothing. Koenig even says about the series that the case just happened to fall in her lap. Initially, it was a low-profile case that had been settled legally, but when Koenig gets her hands on it and opens it up, she finds tons of inconsistencies and faults in the prosecution.
“If you don’t mind me asking, you don’t really have no ending?” Adnan asks Koenig this, just days before the final podcast. She goes on to assure the listeners that she does…but is it the ending we want? What do we end up getting out of this story? Throughout the series, Koenig places herself in the position of the audience, asking all of the questions and displaying all of the frustration we share. To what end? Twelve episodes and three months in, I’m left with even more questions and no one to ask them for me. Continue reading
When I think Serial by Sarah Koenig, I think of a few different arguments and disputes:
Fans of Serial have the option of either listening to the podcast, or reading the transcript of the podcast (which can be found on This American Life’s website). The real decision they’re making here is who controls the tone. Serial is a major departure from most pieces of creative non-fiction because it, in it’s intended format, is presented directly by the author — in this case Sarah Koenig — with all of Koenig’s inflections and emphases. While this is a huge convenience for those on the go, or those who prefer to sit back and relax and let the author do literally all of the work, or yes, even those who are seeking some virtual company on a lonely Valentine’s Day evening; I, for one, preferred to read rather than to listen, as I was able to more easily further separate myself from Koenig’s intentions. Continue reading
The first thing I thought upon writing this blog post was: “How can I write about something I know so little about?”
And by that, I mean how can I write about a recent case. (Not the Serial case). The case of a friend of a friend, who was accused of killing his own father.
Upon hearing this news, my friend was obviously shocked. He explained to me how completely unbelievable it was that this kid could have any malicious kind of motive. He was such a nice kid. Continue reading
Sarah Koenig has a beautiful voice. So much so that I suspect she may have voiced over her original dialogue afterwards in a studio, adding minute inflections and vocal theatrics. Her thoughts are transparent, and intentionally so. Throughout the podcast she assumes the role of the listener. She shares our skepticism and empathy for Adnon, and when we feel indignant hearing about the banal mechanics of our justice system, Koenig is right there with us raising her voice in protest. This makes her incredibly likable, her feelings so openly displayed for her interviewee and audience makes Koenig seem almost childlike. Like she says, she isn’t even a crime reporter, this case just fell in her lap.
While I sat and listen to Serial I was effeminately emotionally attached. I am not sure why I became so emotional attached to this case as I have no ties to the “victim” “accused” or any other person within this case, yet I found myself objecting during the absurd dejection(s) within the case. It surprised me that I became so attached to this podcast, had I not been assigned to listen to it, I would not have, maybe even ever listen to it. Though, since I began to care, I found myself infuriated, saddened, excited, and even flabbergasted at times. Continue reading