Browsing by Subject "Talk audio"

This study/research is an explorative work examining the effects of the use of talk audio digital products on agency. Visual products are most often the focus in discussions on human-computer interaction (HCI) and Science Technology Studies). Therefore, an examination of agency in the context of voice-based talk-audio products has remained a minority but is necessary in the era of digital services. The thesis explores the use of products in two environments with different cultures; urban Bangalore in India and urban Stockholm in Sweden where semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students were conducted. The concept of agency builds on Anthony Giddens’ classical approach. The concept of talk audio was created in the context of data collection and refers to talk-based auditory products. Inspired by studies of personal stereo use by Michael Bull and music sociology by Tia DeNora, the thesis explores how individuals construct their agency both consciously and less consciously when using talk audio products. Young people use talk audio products when constructing their agency consciously to manage it in relation to their environment (e.g. to avoid noises of the city, or to escape the repetitive elements of urban life), and to manage their inner reality inside their heads (e.g. manage their thoughts and feelings, avoiding feelings of loneliness, escaping to an imaginary place). Young people also constructed their agency less-consciously in order to manage their mood but they, in part, struggled to express how. By comparing talk audio use to music listening, the students described to attain a “normal” level of mood and thoughts instead of strong emotional states they get when listening to music. When choosing between music and talk audio products, the students aimed to attain a mood that was, in their minds, suitable for the current or future social situation. With talk audio, the interviewees describe getting a chance for a change of thoughts to feel less stressful or to gain perspective on their daily issues through the talk audio content and voice of the talk audio host. The young people also describe finding perspective e.g. on political topics from talk audio, while they also simultaneously learn, are entertained, get information and develop their social skills. The perspectives and information the students described to receive through talk audio were always curated by the talk audio host(s). All of the young people also said to have experienced talk audio products as distinctively personal and intimate. In contrast to music use, they described it to “feel strange” to listen together, and they only listened to talk audio alone or with a significant other. According to previous literature on radio and podcasts, the sense of ‘being there’ in a talk audio product can create a sense of a two-way communication for the audience. The relationship my informants described with talk audio hosts was perceived as distinctively personal; many would describe how they would feel being addressed exclusively or that they would take part in the discussions themselves. They also described talk audio to be more “authentic” than other mediums (e.g. in comparison to social media). With these findings I argue that the primary material for constructing agency through talk audio use builds from, in light of this data, the perceived relationship the listeners have with the talk audio host. The young people would describe talk audio hosts of something similar as talking or hanging out with friends or having a mentor. The phenomenon of an always-available human-presence decreased the level of loneliness for some participants and thus extended their sociality with technologically mediated content. Nevertheless, since the talk audio hosts are mostly unaware of the listeners’ reactions to their content, the social encounter is controlled solely by the listeners, unlike in a traditional interpersonal encounter. This creates one form of agency the students build with talk audio; a form of parasocial agency.