Tsar Bell in the Daily Cal
Amongst all the activities on Cal Day, the Daily Cal featured BCNM's unveiling of the Tsar Bell, whose electronic replication played in concert with the Campanile in several performances throughout Cal Day. The original bell, damaged in a 1732 fire, remains the heaviest bell ever constructed thought it does not function. On Cal Day, a team of Stanford and Berkeley scientists revealed a simulation of the sound such a bell would make, the culmination of physics, acoustics, engineering, and design research. Reactions on the internet have been swift. From the article:
"According to Niemeyer, Russian citizens remain divided over their perception of the replicated bell sounds — some believe that the researchers “copied” the sound unrightfully. Despite the controversy, Niemeyer maintained that the intent of the project was not malicious, but rather meant to pay homage to the original bell.
“The gesture of American cultural appropriation is dramatic and can be harmful … (but) I feel like for me it’s about pointing back to the origin and honoring the origin in some way,” Niemeyer said.