Book dossier

Extremely loud

by Juliette Volcler

There is a long history of efforts by military and police forces to deploy sound against enemies, criminals, and citizens. During a 2004 battle in Fallujah, U.S. Marines bolted large speakers to the roofs of their Humvees, blasting AC/DC, Eminem, and Metallica songs. High-decibel, "nonlethal" sonic weapons have become the tools of choice for crowd control at political demonstrations. Volcler documents and interrogates this sinister threat to the "peace and quiet" that societies have traditionally craved.