Silence
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
Revision as of 07:45, 12 April 2014 Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) ← Previous diff |
Current revision Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Image:Marche Funèbre composée pour les Funérailles d'un grand homme sourd.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''[[Funeral March for the Obsequies of a Deaf Man]]'' (1884), a composition by [[Alphonse Allais]]. It consists of nine [[blank]] measures and predates comparable works by [[John Cage]] ("[[4′33″]]") by a considerable margin.]] | [[Image:Marche Funèbre composée pour les Funérailles d'un grand homme sourd.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''[[Funeral March for the Obsequies of a Deaf Man]]'' (1884), a composition by [[Alphonse Allais]]. It consists of nine [[blank]] measures and predates comparable works by [[John Cage]] ("[[4′33″]]") by a considerable margin.]] | ||
+ | [[Image:Interior with Young Woman Seen from the Back (c. 1903–04) by Vilhelm Hammershøi.jpg|right|thumb|200px|''[[Interior with Young Woman Seen from the Back]]'' (c. 1903–04) by Vilhelm Hammershøi]] | ||
[[Image:Five Shells on a Slab of Stone by Adriaen Coorte.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Five Shells on a Slab of Stone]]'' (1696) by [[Adriaen Coorte]]]] | [[Image:Five Shells on a Slab of Stone by Adriaen Coorte.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Five Shells on a Slab of Stone]]'' (1696) by [[Adriaen Coorte]]]] | ||
[[Image:Laocoön Group, Clamores horrendos detail, photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen (2009).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Illustration: ''[[Laocoön and His Sons]]'' ("[[Clamores horrendos]]" detail), photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen]] | [[Image:Laocoön Group, Clamores horrendos detail, photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen (2009).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Illustration: ''[[Laocoön and His Sons]]'' ("[[Clamores horrendos]]" detail), photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen]] | ||
{{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
- | '''Silence''' is a relative or total [[lack]] of [[sound]]. An environment with sound below 20 [[decibels]] is considered [[quiet]] or silent. | + | '''Silence''' is a relative or total [[lack]] of [[sound]]. An environment with sound below 20 [[decibels]] is considered [[quiet]] or silent. Languages such as German have the verb '''schweigen''' for being silent, or ''[[shutting up]]''. |
==Gestures of silence== | ==Gestures of silence== | ||
:''[[shh]], [[gestures of silence]]'' | :''[[shh]], [[gestures of silence]]'' | ||
Line 9: | Line 10: | ||
Placing the [[index finger]] in front of closed [[lips]][http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Forefinger_before_lips] is the most widely recognized [[gesture]] of [[silence]]. The gesture can be used to demand silence without raising one's own voice. | Placing the [[index finger]] in front of closed [[lips]][http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Forefinger_before_lips] is the most widely recognized [[gesture]] of [[silence]]. The gesture can be used to demand silence without raising one's own voice. | ||
==Visual representation of silence== | ==Visual representation of silence== | ||
- | :''[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Silence]'' | + | :''[[painters of silence]]'' |
- | *[[Painters of silence]] | + | |
- | *''[[Sunshine and Silent Rooms]]'' | + | |
- | ;Paintings of silence: | + | There is a hidden tradition in the [[painting of silence]]: [[Vermeer]], [[Caspar David Friedrich]], [[Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin|Chardin]], [[Bonnard]], [[Chirico]] and [[Giorgio Morandi|Morandi]]. |
- | *[[Le Silence]] [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Le_Silence_O_Redon_Lille_2918.jpg] by [[Odilon Redon]] (1840–1916) | + | The '[[Copenhagen Interior School]]' ("Interiørmaler") is the name given to the work of a loose grouping of Danish artists famous for painting images of "[[Sunshine and Silent Rooms]]." |
- | *[[The Silence (Fuseli)]] [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Johann_Heinrich_Füssli_008.jpg] | + | |
+ | Two works have the word "silence" in their titles: ''[[Le Silence]]'' [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Le_Silence_O_Redon_Lille_2918.jpg] by [[Odilon Redon]] (1840–1916) and [[The Silence (Fuseli)|The Silence]] [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Johann_Heinrich_Füssli_008.jpg] by Henry Fuseli. There is also ''Silentium''[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C3%89douard_manet_-_Silentium.jpg] by Manet. | ||
== In music == | == In music == | ||
:''"[[It's Oh So Quiet]]" by Bjork, [[list of silent musical compositions]]'' | :''"[[It's Oh So Quiet]]" by Bjork, [[list of silent musical compositions]]'' | ||
Music inherently depends on silence in some form or another to distinguish other periods of sound and allow dynamics, melodies and rhythms to have greater impact. For example, most music scores feature ''[[rest (music)|rest]]s'' denoting periods of silence. | Music inherently depends on silence in some form or another to distinguish other periods of sound and allow dynamics, melodies and rhythms to have greater impact. For example, most music scores feature ''[[rest (music)|rest]]s'' denoting periods of silence. | ||
- | Some composers take the use of silence in music to an extreme. ''[[4′33″]]'' is an [[Experimental music|experimental musical work]] by [[avant-garde]] [[composer]] [[John Cage]]. Though first performed on the [[piano]], the piece was composed for any [[musical instruments|instrument]] or instruments and is structured in three [[movement (music)|movements]]. The length of each movement is not fixed by the composer, but the total length of the combination of three movements is. | + | Some composers take the use of silence in music to an extreme. The first composition of this kind is ''[[Funeral March for the Obsequies of a Deaf Man]]'' (1884), by [[Alphonse Allais]]. It consists of nine [[blank]] measures and predates comparable works by [[John Cage]] ("[[4′33″]]") by a considerable margin. |
+ | |||
==Socially== | ==Socially== | ||
In [[Western culture]]s, it is sometimes difficult to interpret the meaning of a person who is silent (not speaking). It can mean [[anger]], [[hostile|hostility]], [[apathy|disinterest]], or other [[emotion]]s. Because of this, many in some Western cultures feel uneasy when one party is [[Awkward silence|silent]], and usually try their best to fill up the silence with [[small talk]]. | In [[Western culture]]s, it is sometimes difficult to interpret the meaning of a person who is silent (not speaking). It can mean [[anger]], [[hostile|hostility]], [[apathy|disinterest]], or other [[emotion]]s. Because of this, many in some Western cultures feel uneasy when one party is [[Awkward silence|silent]], and usually try their best to fill up the silence with [[small talk]]. | ||
==Dicta== | ==Dicta== | ||
*[[What can be said at all can be said clearly; and what we cannot talk about we must pass over in silence]] | *[[What can be said at all can be said clearly; and what we cannot talk about we must pass over in silence]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Namesakes== | ||
+ | *[[The Silence (1963 film)]] by Ingmar Bergman | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
+ | <div style="column-count:3;-moz-column-count:3;-webkit-column-count:3"> | ||
*[[4′33″]] | *[[4′33″]] | ||
*[[Background noise]] | *[[Background noise]] | ||
Line 34: | Line 39: | ||
*[[Omertà]] | *[[Omertà]] | ||
*[[Pinter pause]] | *[[Pinter pause]] | ||
+ | *[[Quiet]] | ||
*[[Retreat (religious/spiritual)|Retreat]] for the religious meaning of silence. | *[[Retreat (religious/spiritual)|Retreat]] for the religious meaning of silence. | ||
+ | *[[Right to silence]] | ||
+ | *[[Secrecy]] | ||
+ | *[[Silence is golden]] | ||
+ | *[[Silent character]] | ||
*[[Silent film]] | *[[Silent film]] | ||
+ | *[[Silent majority]] | ||
*[[Stillness]] | *[[Stillness]] | ||
- | *[[Quiet]] | + | *[[Tacit]] |
- | *[[Secrecy]] | + | *[[Taciturn]] |
*[[Vow of silence]] | *[[Vow of silence]] | ||
+ | *[[Wordless]] | ||
+ | </div> | ||
{{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} |
Current revision
Related e |
Featured: |
Silence is a relative or total lack of sound. An environment with sound below 20 decibels is considered quiet or silent. Languages such as German have the verb schweigen for being silent, or shutting up.
Contents |
Gestures of silence
Placing the index finger in front of closed lips[1] is the most widely recognized gesture of silence. The gesture can be used to demand silence without raising one's own voice.
Visual representation of silence
There is a hidden tradition in the painting of silence: Vermeer, Caspar David Friedrich, Chardin, Bonnard, Chirico and Morandi.
The 'Copenhagen Interior School' ("Interiørmaler") is the name given to the work of a loose grouping of Danish artists famous for painting images of "Sunshine and Silent Rooms."
Two works have the word "silence" in their titles: Le Silence [2] by Odilon Redon (1840–1916) and The Silence [3] by Henry Fuseli. There is also Silentium[4] by Manet.
In music
- "It's Oh So Quiet" by Bjork, list of silent musical compositions
Music inherently depends on silence in some form or another to distinguish other periods of sound and allow dynamics, melodies and rhythms to have greater impact. For example, most music scores feature rests denoting periods of silence.
Some composers take the use of silence in music to an extreme. The first composition of this kind is Funeral March for the Obsequies of a Deaf Man (1884), by Alphonse Allais. It consists of nine blank measures and predates comparable works by John Cage ("4′33″") by a considerable margin.
Socially
In Western cultures, it is sometimes difficult to interpret the meaning of a person who is silent (not speaking). It can mean anger, hostility, disinterest, or other emotions. Because of this, many in some Western cultures feel uneasy when one party is silent, and usually try their best to fill up the silence with small talk.
Dicta
Namesakes
- The Silence (1963 film) by Ingmar Bergman
See also
- 4′33″
- Background noise
- Code of silence
- Humming
- Monastic silence
- Omertà
- Pinter pause
- Quiet
- Retreat for the religious meaning of silence.
- Right to silence
- Secrecy
- Silence is golden
- Silent character
- Silent film
- Silent majority
- Stillness
- Tacit
- Taciturn
- Vow of silence
- Wordless