For this task, we were asked to curate the list of tracks currently on Voyager’s Golden Record to 10 tracks.  The topic for the week was the politics of text with readings around the digitization of information.

In selecting my tracks, I thought about what I might hope to communicate to alien life.  I did not think there was value in including a variety of cultural tracks as culture would unlikely mean anything to a being not of this planet.  I contemplated if the human voice would even be meaningful, or if instrumental tracks would be more meaningful.  I also wondered if these beings would even have ears or the ability to hear.  We should not assume an alien would possess all the same senses that we do.

To preserve, “digitize” or communicate what it really means to be human, I included tracks that I thought might invoke some emotion.  Some tracks are uplifting (Fairie Round) while others are more sullen (Melancholy Blues).   I included some with vocals and others without.  I also included a track or two that might have some vibration that, in case, not heard, could be felt.  Finally, most tracks are pleasing to me, but I included one that was not, in case these life forms do not share my taste in music.

Here is my list:

#2 Ugam – Azerbaijan bagpipes (instrumental)

#3 Bach WTK 2, no 1 (classical piano)

#10 Sacrificial dance Stravinsky

#12 Melancholy Blues – L Armstrong

#14 Jaat Kahan Ho

#17 Fairie Round

#19 Flowing Streams

#23 Tchenhoukoumen, percussion

#24 Beethoven 5^th

#25 Cranes in their nest