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A Different Sense of Things

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On the island of Martha's Vineyard, Marcia Smilack is probably spending her weekend photographing reflections on the water. Marcia does that a lot -- she tries to capture not just what she sees, but what she hears, smells and feels. Smilack has synesthesia, a neurological condition that affects the senses. It causes people to have some odd experiences: they might see the color blue when they see the letter A, or hear chimes when looking at a picture. Nabokov, Kandinsky, and Miles Davis are believed to have had synesthesia. Independent Producers Ann Heppermann and Kara Oehler spend a weekend with Smilack, trying to sense what she senses.

Special Web Audio

  • Music Bridge:
    Jeden Tag
    Artist: Hausmeister
    CD: Water-Wasser (Plop)

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