Soundwalk: Ktown 32th Street and Broadway

For this assignment, I walked around 32nd Street and Broadway on a short block known as Korea town. I've been here often for food and shopping but never have taken the chance to really take in the sounds of the street. So on this assignment I've noticed sounds and people I've never taken the chance to notice before. The sounds here are diverse and range from multilingual conversations to noisy trucks unloading the goods for the stores and restaurants. The Korean language is not that harsh when spoken loudly but can be quite lyrical when spoken in a normal conversational manner. For the Korean workers shouting in Korean, it sounded as if it were rather harsh almost like a clanging noise. Because the area is still a major part of midtown Manhattan, there is still an apparent English speaking population here with the regular fast food joints and banks, and other businesses. Their noises from speech and doors opening and closing, and fast honking cars seem to blend seamlessly into the environment of what is Ktown. There is a fusion of American, Korean and Asian culture that coexists in a charming unexpected way. Around lunch time, from 12-3 the restaurants are packed with hungry patrons of all ethnicities and cultures. When I revisited Food Gallery 32, one of my favorite restaurants here, is cafeteria styled store with many smaller restaurants inside it was like an Asian fusion cafeteria with Korean Pop music playing (which I enjoy immensely). The bouncy pop music gives off a youthful vibe and the sounds are of a smooth texture. I think this neighborhood is so unique because of its Asian fusion influences and its predominantly Korean culture that is apparent through all the restaurants, shopping stores, and karaoke bars. I’m glad to have learned more about this place by not using my eyes, but my ears which introduced me to a new world of sound and culture.