Electronic realities and identity fugue in Chris Petit's Radio On (1979)

Chris Petit's Radio On (1979) is an excellent example of how to achieve a great deal through the use of film sound with relatively scarce financial and production resources. As such it serves as a fascinating document for film-makers starting out, who are interested in the possibilities of storytelling through a subtle deployment of sound. This article is about how Petit's use of the songs and the personae of Kraftwerk and David Bowie combine with his subtle variation of auditory perspectives to create an electronic reality where music and sound serve to reveal ideas of identity.