During (September 11, 2001)
Golf Balls
September 2001
Produced by Matt Lieber

New York City as seen from space Photo: www.spaceimaging.com

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From Matt Lieber
A week before September 11th, I moved to New York with the firm, vague idea of working in Public Radio. I was on my way, in fact, to find a temp job in lieu of public radio, when the second plane hit and when I saw the man hitting golf balls in the park. The scene was strange and compelling, and I figured I ought to talk to him on tape, a thought which was immediately followed by feelings of shame and self- indulgence. Shame for wanting to capitalize on this moment, for exploiting it. Exploitation is complicated, and I believe its the cardinal sin of documentary. There is nothing more disappointing than a radio story which amounts to so much pointing and staring.

I did the interview, collected sound, and sat on it for a few days. I told a friend the story about this man hitting golf balls as the World Trade Center collapsed, and he thought it was remarkable. I didn’t tell him that I had recorded the man until I had convinced myself that I was not, in effect, pointing and staring.

I got a Sony MR-70 minidisc recorder and a Shure SM-58 microphone this summer and recorded a total of 3 minutes 37 seconds of me walking around my house, flushing toilets, opening and closing doors, and unloading the silverware tray from the dishwasher. I couldn’t bear to speak into the mic, or to hear my own voice played back, and I put the equipment in a bag under my bed. I took it back out on September 11, and this was the result.

About Matt Lieber

I’m 22, I just graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine, where I spent four years working in College Radio. I interned at The Connection, dearly departed, and now I need a job.

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