Remember Gerhard Richter in the Thunderstorm of Beethoven: The Influence of Cross-Sensory Coupling on Memory, Intercultural Communication, and the Verbalization of Paintings and Sounds

Emilie Martinez

doi:10.2478/rela-2013-0001

Authors

Emilie Martinez Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2478/rela-2013-0001

Abstract

This interdisciplinary study focuses on the perception and verbalization of messages conveyed through instrumental music, soundscapes, and contemporary paintings. International young-adult university students learning German participated in a series of experiments conducted at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany. To incorporate globalization and cultural difference into this analysis, the author compared the reactions of Western and Asian participants to auditory and visual stimuli. This paper explores the concepts of mixed media, cross-sensory coupling, and esthetic synesthesia, and throws new light on the contribution of cross-sensory coupling to verbalization and to long-term memory processes, from encoding to retrieval. In addition, the author demonstrates how intercultural communication is based upon universal emotions aroused by contemporary paintings, instrumental music and soundscapes.

Author Biography

Emilie Martinez, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany

Emilie Martinez is a PhD candidate at Friedrich Schiller University (FSU) in Jena, Germany. Her thesis focuses on the use of contemporary paintings, instrumental music, and soundscapes in the foreign language classroom. She also teaches German as a Foreign Language and German Literature to international students through the German as a Foreign Language Department of FSU, as well as English as a Foreign Language to German adults.

References

Antweiler, Christoph (2009). Heimat Mensch. Was UNS ALLE verbindet. Hamburg: Murmann.
Google Scholar

Arnold, Margret (2002). Aspekte einer modernen Neurodidaktik. Emotionen undKognitionen im Lernprozess. München: Ernst Vögel.
Google Scholar

Badstübner-Kizik, Camilla (2004).“Wortschatzarbeit, Schreiben, Hörverstehen … und was noch? Anmerkungen zur Rolle von Kunst und Musik im Fremdsprachenunterricht”. ÖDaF- Mitteilungen, 1, pp. 6-18.
Google Scholar

Blell, Gabriele (2006).“‘Seeing comes before words, and can never be quite covered by them'. Zum Verhältnis von Kunstbildern und Sprache”. In P. Drexler & J. Klinger (Eds.). Bilderwelten. Visualisierung in Wissenschaft und Kunst. Trier: Wissenschaftlicher Verlag, pp. 3-24.
Google Scholar

Bortz, Jürgen & Nicola Döring (2002). Forschungsmethoden und Evaluation fürHuman- und Sozialwissenschaftler. Berlin: Springer Verlag.
Google Scholar

Elger, Dietmar (2008). Gerhard Richter, Maler. Köln: DuMont.
Google Scholar

Gabrielsson, Alf & Patrik N. Juslin (1996). Emotional Expression in MusicPerformance: Between the Performer’s Intention and the Listener’s Experience. http://pom.sagepub.com/content/24/1/68
Google Scholar

Gille, Ina (2007). “Holunder”. In P. Köhler (Eds.). Sighard Gille. Leipziger Schule. Malerei und Grafik. Berlin: Galerie GEGENWART, pp. 28-31.
Google Scholar

Graz, Dominik (2012). “Learning through art. Is it worth doing?”. In M. Krawiec (ed.). Od języka do kultury, literatury, sztuki i mediów. Wałbrzych: Wydawnictwo DTP Service s.c., pp. 83-88.
Google Scholar

Haverkamp, Michael (2003). Visualisierungen auditiver Wahrnehmung - historischeund neue Konzepte. Ein phänomenologischer Überblick. http://www.michaelhaverkamp.mynetcologne.de/visualisierung_text.pdf/
Google Scholar

Hays, Jeffrey (2009). Western classical music in Japan. Seiji Ozawa, Toru Takemitsuand Japanese music contest winners. http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=707&catid=20&subcatid=130
Google Scholar

Hays, Jeffrey (2008). Western Classical Music in China. http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=250&catid=7&subcatid=41
Google Scholar

Heibach, Christiane (2004). “Sprachkunst als synästhetisches Phänomen - Probleme und Fragestellungen”. In C. Filk et al. (Eds.). Media Synaesthetics. Konturen einerphysiologischen Medienästhetik (163-179). Köln: Herbert von Halem Verlag.
Google Scholar

Hewett, Ivan (2006). Why they are hooked on classical. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3652458/Why-they-are-hooked-onclassical.html
Google Scholar

Körner, Peter (2008). “Welchen Beitrag leistet Kunstpädagogik im Allgemeinen und Bilnerische Erziehung im Speziellen für ein gelingendes Leben?”. In F. Billmayer (Eds.). Angeboten. Was die Kunstpädagogik leisten kann. München: Kopaed, pp. 119-127.
Google Scholar

Krawiec, Marek (2012). “A virtual tour of EFL students to the world of art - theoretical and practical implications”. In: M. Krawiec (ed.). Od języka do kultury, literatury,sztuki i mediow. Wałbrzych: Wydawnictwo DTP Service s.c., pp. 89-102.
Google Scholar

Martinez, Emilie (2013). “Listen to That Painting!: An Intercultural Experiment Based on Cross-sensory Coupling”. The International Journal of New Media, Technology, and the Arts, 7.
Google Scholar

Neuner, Gerhard (1998). “Kognition vs. Emotion im Fremdsprachenunterricht?”. In B.
Google Scholar

Hufeisen & B. Lindenmann (Eds.). Kognition als Schlüsselbegriff bei derErforschung des Lehrens und Lernens fremder Sprachen. Arbeitspapiere der 18. Frühjahrskonferenz zur Erforschung des Fremdsprachenunterrichts (134-141). Tübingen: Narr.
Google Scholar

Schafer, Raymond Murray (1988). Klang und Krach. Eine Kulturgeschichte des Hörens. Frankfurt am Main: Athenäum.
Google Scholar

Werner, Hans-Ulrich et al. (2006). Media Soundscapes 1: Klanguage. Landschaften ausKlang und Methoden des Hörens. Siegen: Universität Siegen.
Google Scholar

Yalin, Pan (2007). “Die Suche nach Gemeinsamkeiten als Teil der interkulturellen Kompetenz - ein wichtiges Lernziel für den Fremdsprachenunterricht”. In R. Esser & H.-J. Krumm (Eds.). Bausteine für Babylon: Sprache, Kultur, Unterricht... Festschrift zum 60. Geburtstag von Hans Barkowski (135-145). München: IUDICIUM.
Google Scholar