Mariana J López
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marianajlopez.bsky.social
Mariana J López
@marianajlopez.bsky.social
980 followers 680 following 870 posts
Professor in Sound Production and Post Production, Sound Designer, Educator. Researcher in acoustical heritage and accessibility through sound design. Zumba instructor. Latina. She/Her https://marianajlopez.com/
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marianajlopez.bsky.social
We have just released a new episode of the #DARCI Podcast reflecting on the DARCI Conference. Both the audio and the transcript are available. A great episode with lots of insights on the field and lots of tips on how to organise inclusive and accessible events enhancingaudiodescription.com/darci-23
November 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Great reflection on last August's event 'Exploring Sonic Cultural Heritage'. It was such an honour to get to travel to Struer to present and meet the team at SOKU as well as all the presenters. Thanks! 🙏 www.sonicheritage.dk/aktiviteter/...
A wide shot of a conference stage, Mariana is presenting on stage, walking. Behind her a projector screen. We see the audience sitting, listening and someone taking a photo.
November 6, 2025 at 3:06 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Huge thanks to Marcel Cobussen for writing this wonderful review of 'Sonic Pasts' for the Journal of Sonic Studies.
www.researchcatalogue.net/view/558982/...
Book 'Sonic Pasts: acoustical heritage and historical soundscapes' by Mariana J López. At the centre we see a circle formed by swirly colour bands and different outlines of people, objects and places, such as a desert landscape, a diver, Stonehenge and Notre Dame. At the bottom it says Mariana J López. The book cover is yellow with dark purple font.
October 24, 2025 at 2:33 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
I love that the Internet is trying to sell me my own book 😂 You should definitely get one though 😜
Online advertising banner showing different books by Routledge, including 'Sonic Pasts: acoustical heritage and historical soundscapes' by Mariana.
October 22, 2025 at 4:19 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Tomorrow (Friday 17th, 1pm) I'll be speaking as part of the series of talks organised by The Digital Archaeology & Heritage Lab at York at King's Manor and online. I'll be exploring how we study the sounds of the past + approaches to sound installations in museums and online experiences
Book 'Sonic Pasts: acoustical heritage and historical soundscapes' Mariana J López Dowkerbottom Cave. Photo taken from the inside, we see light coming through the entrance which is accessed through a ladder and a rope. Mariana wearing a winter coat, a scarf and gloves as she sits on an equipment box working on a laptop. Behind her a locomotive. Attic of the ex-ESMA Site of Memory
October 16, 2025 at 1:09 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
It's been a month since the DARCI Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. I've put together a personal reflection on the event which I hope some of you enjoy reading or at least find mildly interesting enhancingaudiodescription.com/darci-confer...
Mariana presenting holding a microphone and a clicker Gavin presenting holding a microphone and a clicker Chaimae presenting, behind her a screen that says 'Making Cinema and TV Accessible: Exploring Audio Description in Morocco' Krisztián speaking at the front of a room
October 14, 2025 at 2:21 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Weekend harp playing 🪉🎶 Not sure this Baroque piece titled The Cuckoo sounds anything like a cuckoo though.
Mariana sitting at the harp Harp, we see a fireplace through its strings Sheet music The Cuckoo
October 12, 2025 at 8:50 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
We like all of our #DARCI Conference attendees, but we can't deny particularly liking the wonderful Jessi Parrott, one of our speakers and bursary recipients who, to thank us for our hard work, wrote us a sonnet 🥰 Thanks Jessi. The rest of you, we can't wait to receive your sonnets 😜
For the DARCI Team This sonnet is an ode to Team DARCI In honour of a stellar conference And thanks, too, for providing bursaries To cover some (or all) of the expense. ‘Twas a true joy to be amongst the throng For sometimes such events are hard to access But there I felt that I might just belong And that my wheely self could decompress. Along with my performance I’m a poet, So take th’example of R. Antrobus To put my praise in rhymes, and hope they show at The very least my heartfelt thankfulness. My brain and body are both well exhausted And yet my mind and soul feel well resourced. Dr Jessi Parrott, 22nd September 2025
October 7, 2025 at 9:34 AM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Delighted to have been invited to speak as part of the Digital Archaeology/Heritage Lab series of talks at University of York. I'll be presenting some of the work from my book 'Sonic Pasts: acoustical heritage and historical soundscapes'. Thanks @clmorgan.bsky.social for the lovely invitation!
Book cover design that says 'Sonic Pasts: acoustical heritage and historical soundscapes' At the centre we see a circle formed by swirly colour bands and different outlines of people, objects and places, such as a desert landscape, a diver, Stonehenge and Notre Dame. At the bottom it says Mariana J López. The book cover is yellow with dark purple font.
September 30, 2025 at 10:18 AM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Why choose to play a musical instrument with 40 strings that can break? 🫠🪉
Lots of bags with harp strings on the floor Top of harp, a string is being changed
September 27, 2025 at 8:07 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
I find this information accompanying a skull quite moving actually.
Label in a museum that says 'Please do not dislike this skull. Once it could laugh and cry like you. Those in authority decided to chop his head off and dump it in hot tar. Someone placed the head in this bible box which was recovered from the rubble of a London church during the war. The head responds to kindness and affection so spare him a kind thought or smile, you may well be surprised at what a little affection can do!'
September 23, 2025 at 4:42 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Here's a photo of some of the artefacts. I should say that I'm proud that I can pronounce 'athame' - all thanks to years of watching 'Charmed' 😂 It's an interesting place. I think they treat the topic very thoughtfully as well.
Different artefacts, including a wand and an athame, inside a museum display case
September 23, 2025 at 4:39 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Delighted that the beautiful film 'Follow the Dogs' is available with EAD (Enhanced Audio Description) on BBC iPlayer. EAD is an alternative to Audio Description that uses sound design and audio spatialisation to provide accessible experiences for visually impaired audiences tinyurl.com/ymv7yvha
Plasticine Husky Dog - a still from Follow the Dogs. On the bottom right hand side corner we see the EAD logo.
September 18, 2025 at 9:50 AM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Thanks to the wonderful team at the National Railway Museum who hosted a tour, including Wonderlab, focusing on disability, accessibility and representation as part of the #DARCI conference last week. The feedback was great and it was my first time in Wonderlab. Well worth a visit!
A red spiky inflatable structure that is acting a bit like a gateway to the space A table with soft blocks on it. We sea a member of staff speaking and others listening and/or building structures A large structure with lots of tubes, ropes and others. Visitors are interacting, placing soft balls in different parts of the structure Staff member at the museum standing in front of an old train.
September 17, 2025 at 8:11 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Thank you very much to @foxlanebooks.bsky.social for stocking my book 'Sonic Pasts: acoustical heritage and historical soundscapes' To anyone interested, this is a really good price, much cheaper than in other sites www.foxlanebooks.co.uk/product-page...
Screenshot of Fox Lane Books website which features the book 'Sonic Pasts: acoustical heritage and historical soundscapes' at £22.
September 15, 2025 at 3:35 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Last month I had the pleasure of being invited to travel to Struer (Denmark) to speak at the Conference ‘Exploring Sonic Cultural Heritage’, organised by the National Centre for Sonic Cultural Heritage linked to Struer Museum. Delighted to present work that is part of my new book ‘Sonic Pasts’.
Three sculptures of seahorses with noses like trumpets in a harbour area Struer Museum Sculpture of a huge tuning fork Photo of Mariana's reflection in the mirror
September 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
We will also hear about the connection between Audio Description and dementia; disability and work in the creative industries, and work with visually impaired children in China.
Poster for a lightning bolt session titled “Interactive Multi-Sensory Environment (iMSE) Design to Support Social Engagement For Visually Impaired Children in China” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. A lightning bolt session presenting a user-centred design project creating multi-sensory tools to support visually impaired children’s social engagement in China, challenging visual-dominated play and promoting inclusive interaction. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Qiti Zhang. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners. Poster for a lightning bolt session titled “Audio Description...Aiding Dementia?” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. A lightning bolt session exploring how tailored audio description could support people with dementia, especially those with age-related sight loss, by making visual content more accessible and enhancing physical and mental wellbeing. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Polly Ellen Goodwin. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners. Poster for a lightning bolt session titled “The Lived Experiences of Individuals with Impairments (IWI): Obtaining and Maintaining Work in the Creative Industries” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. A lightning bolt session exploring the discrimination faced by individuals with impairments in the creative industries, examining structural barriers to employment and how inclusive practices can promote belonging and participation. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Liz Turnbull. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners.
September 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
The lightning bolt session will include 7 wonderful presenters, including work on co-designing, media accessibility in the workplace and professional practices in media accessibility.
Poster for a lightning bolt session titled “Co-Designing Assistive Technology for Visually Impaired Musicians in Ensemble Settings” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. A lightning bolt session presenting a co-design project developing technology to support visually impaired musicians in ensemble settings, aiming to improve real-time participation and inform more inclusive music practices. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Rachel Horrell. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners. Poster for a lightning bolt session titled “Media Accessibility in Internal Communication as a Strategy for the Inclusion and Participation of Visually Impaired Workers” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. A lightning bolt session presenting findings from field research with visually impaired workers in Brazil, showing how accessible internal communication can foster inclusion, challenge ableism, and support participation in the workplace. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Guilherme Ferreira de Oliveira and Suely Maciel. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners. Poster for a lightning bolt session titled “Creative Arts-Based Pedagogy with Autistic Students: Co-Producing a Manifesto” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. A lightning bolt session presenting a co-produced manifesto on creative arts-based pedagogy with autistic students, based on research with teachers and young people in mainstream schools, highlighting its benefits and barriers to implementation. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Kayleigh Doyle and Prof. Kathryn Asbury. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners. Poster for a lightning bolt session titled “Interdisciplinary Approaches to Professional Practices in Media Accessibility” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. This session examines access coordination in media, using case studies from Uruguay to explore inclusive practices in professional and educational film projects. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Leticia Lorier. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners.
September 11, 2025 at 10:34 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Finally, we will be welcoming Hudson Ray & Elaine Richmond for a presentation titled 'Audience Research Should Be
Fun: A Manifesto for Accessible and Creative Audience Research'
Poster for a paper session titled “Audience Research Should Be Fun: A Manifesto for Accessible and Creative Audience Research” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. A paper session presenting audience research as fun and inclusive, highlighting the importance of involving priority audiences in gallery design from the start and the community connections and joy this creates. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Hudson Ray and Elaine Richmond. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners.
September 11, 2025 at 10:28 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Next on will be Iris C. Permuy with a paper titled 'Accessibility Services for the Blind in the World's Most Visited Museums: A Case Study'
Poster for a paper session titled “Accessibility Services for the Blind in the World's Most Visited Museums: A Case Study” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. A paper session comparing blind access at the Louvre and British Museum, exposing major gaps in independent accessibility and proposing improvements to advance inclusion in global museum practice. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Iris C. Permuy. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners.
September 11, 2025 at 10:26 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Our last paper session will be on Accessibility and
Representation in Heritage with 3 papers. We will start with Vanessa Gumier García with 'Getting the sense of Valencian Fallas: A participatory approach'
Poster for a paper session titled “Getting the Sense of Valencian Fallas: A Participatory Approach” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. This paper session explores participatory methods to make the Valencian Fallas festival accessible for blind audiences, using multisensory audio description co-designed with blind participants, artists, and accessibility experts. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Vanessa Gumier García. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners.
September 11, 2025 at 10:25 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
The last performance of the conference will be 'Blind
Perception as Immersive Descriptive Audio: Accessibility as
Performance in Theatre and Dance'
Poster for a performance session titled “Blind Perception as Immersive Descriptive Audio: Accessibility as Performance in Theatre and Dance” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. This performance session explores how immersive descriptive audio redefines accessibility in theatre and dance, centring blind perception to highlight creative possibilities and audience engagement. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Devon Healey. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners.
September 11, 2025 at 10:23 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
We will then end the session with Sara García Fernández, presenting a paper titled 'Translation challenges in the
European Union: Inclusive and accessible practices in the age of automation'
Poster for a paper session titled “Translation Challenges in the European Union: Inclusive and Accessible Practices in the Age of Automation” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. A paper session exploring how automation affects inclusive translation in the EU, assessing machine-translated easy-to-read content to highlight benefits, risks, and challenges in multilingual accessibility. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Sara García Fernández. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners.
September 11, 2025 at 10:10 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
We will then be welcoming Leticia Lorier López & Florencia Fascioli Álvarez for a presentation on 'Access Coordination: Processes, Roles, and Tools in Educational and Professional Audiovisual Contexts'
Poster for a paper session titled “Access Coordination: Processes, Roles, and Tools in Educational and Professional Audiovisual Contexts” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. A paper session introducing access coordination as an emerging role in audiovisual media, examining case studies from Uruguay to explore inclusive workflows, team practices, and training models across educational and professional contexts. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Leticia Lorier López and Florencia Fascioli Álvarez. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners.
September 11, 2025 at 10:09 PM
marianajlopez.bsky.social
Next on will be Matt Shuttleworth presenting on '(Dis)Ableism:
A Physiological, Social and Cultural Examination of Disability
Studies and Music Production'
Poster for a paper session titled “(Dis)Ableism: A Physiological, Social and Cultural Examination of Disability Studies and Music Production” at the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. DARCI. A paper session examining barriers faced by audio engineers and producers with motor disabilities, highlighting gaps in representation, accessibility in education and software, and offering recommendations to improve inclusion in music production. Scheduled for 12th September at the University of York. Led by Matt Shuttleworth. Logos for DARCI, University of York, EAD project, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council appear at the bottom. The design features coloured swirls in the corners.
September 11, 2025 at 10:07 PM