TL England 5. Behind the Project: Micheal Gallagher - A Simplistic View of Technology

02/23/24 • 7 min

Michael Gallagher is a Social Researcher and Sound Artist who teaches at Manchester Metropolitan University. He became involved with Tape Letters after meeting Modus Arts producer Shazia Kahn. In this episode he talks about the significance of the cassette tape from a media studies perspective.

A Modus Arts Production. Audio Production and Sound Design by Oliver Sanders, Producer Leona Fensome, Executive Producer Lucia Scazzocchio, Funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council of England.

Previous Episode

TL England 4. The Power of the Voice

This episode explores the re-appropriation of cassette technology from music media to communication media. A thin strip of spooled tape was vital in facilitating long-distance messages.

We learn more about the power of the voice and the meaningful, affectionate family memories that were captured through the voice playing on a cassette tape. The recorded messages were often emotional and intimate, and it was common for tearful messages of grievances and condolences to also be included. Interviewees recall further childhood memories such as the mental preparations before recording messages, playing with cassette tape ribbon, and pretending to be TV presenters.
Others remember being able to develop unexpected bonds with family members simply through listening to their voices on cassettes.

Next Episode

TL England 6. A Cassette Tape Love Story

This episode looks at families living apart being brought closer by messages on tape, with a special story of a soon-to-be-married couple, who got to know each other more deeply and fell in love entirely through sending cassette tapes to each other between Pakistan and the UK for over 5 years. Telephones were usually expensive and not private, which is why cassettes were their chosen method of communication. We also discuss the retention and loss of cassette tapes, and therefore stories, over the years as people either held onto tapes for sentimental or evidential reasons or threw them away as they simply looked to do some spring cleaning.