Have you noticed that the music levels and ambient (background) noise throughout Disney World’s ‘worlds’ never change?

You aren’t supposed to, according to this post on how Disney manufactures emotion via ambient sound in the park.

Not content with simply attaching large speakers to posts throughout the park, the land of Mickey takes it to another level:

Disney World is a manufactured experience. Its environment is more ‘real’ than reality, and that’s part of why it’s such an exciting place. Everything in the park — from leaves stapled onto trees for covering up empty holes to artificial rocks in the planters — has been carefully and deliberately designed and placed for the sole pursuit of achieving the perfect environment. When a visitor’s eyes scan the park and see everything in perfect harmony with his expectations, he is overcome with the feeling of bliss. “This is what makes Disneyland the happiest place on Earth,” Mr Q tells me, “This is why people love Disney parks.”

In the mid 1990’s, the park started researching the problem. It would eventually find no existing solution, so the engineers had to design and construct, on their own, one of the most complex and advanced audio systems ever built.

The work paid off: today, as you walk through Disney World, the volume of the ambient music does not change. Ever. More than 15,000 speakers have been positioned using complex algorithms to ensure that the sound plays within a range of just a couple decibels throughout the entire park. It is quite a technical feat acoustically, electrically, and mathematically.

Here’s a quote from Mr. Q, the sound designer, that should ring true for every sound tech/board op reading this:

“What’s funny is that no one ever notices (the sound in the park).  When you’re working with people’s experiences at a theme park, that’s when you know you’ve done something right.’

Sound matters.  Hugely.  Even if it’s not noticed.

So how does sound matter at your church?

Did you know that drum machines were created to accompany church organists?

That’s according to Moby, who shows off his Manhattan recording studio and his prized drum machine collection in this video (see below).

He also tells why he is a fan of analogue (as opposed to digital) and why electronic musicians are “not cool.”

If you have an inner geek, this 12-minute view should satisfy him/her.

What could cell phones possibly have to do with the Incarnation?

Both involve the significance of physical, embodied presence before others.

The presence of another person before us is a kind of moral claim, asking for the recognition appropriate to a fellow human being. Likewise, when we make ourselves present to others, we are showing respect. Thus when we visit someone in the hospital or in prison (a situation Jesus alludes to in Matthew 25) instead of just phoning or sending flowers, we demonstrate by our presence a higher level of regard for their well-being.

The idea of presence is an important one in Biblical religion. In his second letter, the Apostle John writes, “I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face.”

The Church is called the ekklesia, the assembly, the place where believers are present to one another to encourage one another to love and good works.

By contrast, holding a telephone conversation while walking down the street or up an aisle at the supermarket pointedly ignores the presence of others. The importance of physical presence is thus de-valued. It also poses a kind of challenge to passers-by.

Ken Myers, How Would Jesus Call?, column in the Dallas Morning News and posted on MarsHillAudio.org

Agree or disagree?