The Sounds That Divide Us

This work is about the rhetorics across nations that have emerged concerning the recent pandemic, as well as the accuracy of data reported by nations. For this piece, the national anthems of ten countries with the highest absolute number of deaths due to COVID19 are presented. Using computational algorithms to process data, the sonic fidelity and presence of the anthems representing each country are transformed. These sonic changes are determined by the number of cases and mortality rates reported by each country as indicated daily by the World Health Organization (WHO).

National anthems and data are used for mobilizing militaries, but can also be a unifying and peacekeeping force both for people within a country and the international sphere. Again, the historical intricacies of national anthems reflect a dynamic rhetorical device used not only as a way to unify a nation, but to widen divisions within and between countries. Perhaps in the age of a global pandemic, we will learn to align our nations in the interests of all humanity, and maybe then we will be able to increase the accuracy and effectiveness of information.

Data used from January 30th - April 16th.