Marshall McLuhan noted that teeangers use(d) the radio to create a wall of sound, allowing them privacy, vital and prized at their stage of development. The modern urban working class in Britain faces long commutes on public transport, especially in London and especially this summer. As digital sound devices have become cheaper and more portable, more and more commuters have resorted to using them while they travel. It creates the same effect. The commuter is sealed off, aurally at least, from the rest of the world. Notes:
1) There is no such thing as music for music's sake, all music is ambience or soundtrack.
2) This is another expression of alienation. You cannot get more insulated from the world, millions of people together alone, short of people travelling to work in a personal plastic bubble.
3) This bodes ill for democracy, however one might define it. Cities are the home of democracy. Democracy relies on large-scale interchange of people, items, ideas, languages, religions, races. In dealing with the shock to the system delivered by late capitalism on a purely personal level, people are shutting down an aspect of themselves and of their society that makes it liveable and enjoyable. Without conscious intervention this process is self-reinforcing. Have you ever tried petitioning a tired worker with a headset on and eight hours of work ahead of them?
