Speech Talks Back
The Bee (Bloomsbury), 2016
In an act of listening-as-reading, “Speech Talks Back” theorizes about and narrativizes sonic work that uses public speech—recorded speeches, conversations, interviews, and testimonials—as its primary source: Gregory Whitehead’s “As We Know” (2004), Jane Philbrick’s “Common Prayer” (2001), and Steve Reich’s “Come Out” (1966). Placing these unique works side by side, with running commentary, recontextualizes them in light of the present moment.