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Related Pieces
Piece Description
Whenever there's a school shooting, the first word people use to describe the shooter is "quiet." In this non-narrated piece, four teens talk about what it's like to be quiet in school -- and show us that quietness isn't always scary. The voices are complemented by sounds of a school bell going off and kids shouting in the hall. A longer version of "In a Bubble" aired in 2004 as a part of Chicago Public Radio's annual series "Chicago Matters." This version aired on NPR's Day to Day, with help from Hearing Voices on 3/23/05.
5 Comments
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Review of In a BubbleAs a radio producer, I'm attracted to people who are outgoing, talkative and opinionated. The reason is simple: When I place my microphone nearby, they don't flinch. Which bring us to the topic of this delicate story by Hillary Frank. Produced for Chicago Public Radio's "Chicago Matters" series on education, Frank stalks the crowded, noisy school hallways and finds the shy kids. And then she succeeds in getting them to talk about themselves. "Some people don't realize I'm there until I leave," says one girl, very gently and slowly. And then there's this from a boy: "They call me the stupid, quiet kid." These teenagers worry about how their shyness will affect their ability to get dates, talk in front of a class and all kinds of stuff. It's easy to forget the struggles some people face when you're naturally outgoing. |
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Review of In a BubbleEngaging with her subject, Hillary Frank recognizes the nameless quiet kids who always stuck close to lockers in crowded middle school hallways, shrunk into their seats when questioned in class, and sank onto cafeteria benches alone with paper bag lunches. Instead of forcing a narrator into the piece or bombarding shy teenagers with questions, Frank places us back in high school through monologues, ambient sound, and, of course, silence. The unidentified voices of the teens, hushed and tentative, settle into the sound-scape, providing simultaneous sanctuary and discomfort in the position of the quiet kid. As listeners, we feel the appeal of the bubble when the noise of the hallway erupts, yet we sympathize with the confessions of fear of exiting the safety zone provided by this veil of silence. In using collage, Frank doesn’t even try to provide answers regarding how to make quiet kids interact with other kids or how to fix their silence. Those questions aren’t even posed. The sensitive and astute format allows a more effective entrance into their bubble, creating a surprising understanding in the listener. |
Transcript
HOST INTRO: Officials at Red Lake High School today reached out to students who were traumatized by the nation's worst school shooting in six years. Sixteen-year-old Jeff Weise shot and killed nine people and wounded seven others before killing himself. His Relatives say he was a loner and was teased by others. Many teens are withdrawn and bullied by their peers. We hear now from four teens, who talk about what it's like to be quiet and why it can be tough.
[NOTE: THIS INTRO CAN BE CHANGED, DEPENDING ON WHEN IT'S BEING USED]
OUTRO:
This piece was produced by Hillary Frank with the help of Chicago Public Radio's "Chicago Matters" and Hearing Voices.
The students in the piece are:
Heidi Kreiss (rhymes with ICE)
Geoff Maldonado
Feben (FAY-ben) Woldemariam (Wall-duh-MARRY-um)
Levell (Luh-VELL) Fleming
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
piece: 3:22
+ end music: 1:37
Musical Works
music at end...
artist: Lanterna
album: Sands
song: Fields
label: Badman Recording Co.
year: 2002
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Laura Rolfe
Posted on December 15, 2006 at 11:06 AM | Permalink
Review of In a Bubble
Completely in the voices of the "quiet kids", this piece shows a sensitivity that is compelling. The individuals speak about how they see themselves, why they are so quiet and how they feel they are percieved amid the bustling chaos of the school halls. Nicely woven together, concise and moving.