It takes the average reader 5 hours and 40 minutes to read Decomposed by Kyle Devine
Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more
The hidden material histories of music. Music is seen as the most immaterial of the arts, and recorded music as a progress of dematerialization—an evolution from physical discs to invisible digits. In Decomposed, Kyle Devine offers another perspective. He shows that recorded music has always been a significant exploiter of both natural and human resources, and that its reliance on these resources is more problematic today than ever before. Devine uncovers the hidden history of recorded music—what recordings are made of and what happens to them when they are disposed of. Devine's story focuses on three forms of materiality. Before 1950, 78 rpm records were made of shellac, a bug-based resin. Between 1950 and 2000, formats such as LPs, cassettes, and CDs were all made of petroleum-based plastic. Today, recordings exist as data-based audio files. Devine describes the people who harvest and process these materials, from women and children in the Global South to scientists and industrialists in the Global North. He reminds us that vinyl records are oil products, and that the so-called vinyl revival is part of petrocapitalism. The supposed immateriality of music as data is belied by the energy required to power the internet and the devices required to access music online. We tend to think of the recordings we buy as finished products. Devine offers an essential backstory. He reveals how a range of apparently peripheral people and processes are actually central to what music is, how it works, and why it matters.
Decomposed by Kyle Devine is 329 pages long, and a total of 85,211 words.
This makes it 111% the length of the average book. It also has 104% more words than the average book.
The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 7 hours and 45 minutes to read Decomposed aloud.
Decomposed is suitable for students ages 12 and up.
Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.
When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.
Decomposed by Kyle Devine is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.
To buy Decomposed by Kyle Devine on Amazon click the button below.
Buy Decomposed on Amazon