Radio sound and social realism: In the terrain of drama for development production

Abstract

This article explores the use of sound in the context of two BBC World Service development-focused social realist radio drama productions in Afghanistan (New Home, New Life) and Nepal (Sweet Tales of the Sarangi). It examines the various ‘sound strategies' employed to enhance the realist aspirations of the productions, while examining the ‘creative labour’ employed in crafting discrete ‘acoustic environments' or ‘soundscapes'. It argues that sound helps to index narrative, but in doing so suggests that too specific a rendering of sound environment may confound the abilities of listeners to construct a satisfying sense of place and therein affect any sense of social realism derived.