Rhythmical reading
“All rhythm ‘filters’ the news according to the connotations usually attributed to this rhythm. It works well, for instance, ‘to sing’ a speech by a well-known politician, in which he laments not having won the elections, as if it were a tango. The public utterances of the self-proclaimed Brazilian government acquire their true meaning to the sound of ‘Lili Marlene’. The rhythm, in this case, does not have to be especially ‘musical’— that it to say, it can use repetitions and refrains and other devices more usually identified with poetry. Or forms of poetic declamation which are already more or less ritualised. For example: Nixon defends himself against the accusation of spying on the Democrats in Watergate, declaiming like Berta Singerman. It greatly enhances his performance.” Augusto Boal
As a musical commentary, the news is read to the rhythm of the samba, tango, Gregorian chant, etc., so that the rhythm functions as a critical ‘filter’ of the news, revealing its true content, which is obscured in the newspaper
Associate each part with a rhythm or sound that enhances or contrasts its meaning. The result will be a rhythmic interpretation of the news you have chosen.
Choose a topic that interests you and find an article on that topic that you want to problematize.
Select the parts you want to highlight.
Some ways to associate a rhythm:
- use the objects around you;
- use your body/voice;
- use musical instruments;
- choose recorded music, paying attention to copyright.