Link: https://pdnpulse.pdnonline.com/2020/01/ami-vitale-top-photo-decade.html

“Save The Animals!” We hear this message all the time, whether it’s an Instagram post or an on-campus club. Whenever I hear about this issue, I always bury it in the back of my mind. I feel like I’m way too busy to do anything about it. Also, there are more important problems to solve, right? Journalists from the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya released this photo in 2009. This photo photographs the final moments of the last Northern White Rhino on the planet. The picture is filled with subliminal messages, and it was released for a purpose. This photo begs the audience to shift their focuses to preventing global animal extinctions.

It’s important to note the bracelets in the photo. Everyone comforting the rhino in its final moment is wearing a specific type of bracelet. Odds are these people all work at the conservatory. I believe they all wore these similar bracelets to prove a point. The bracelets are all similar, signifying unity among the helpers. This could mean “only local people see how bad the issue is” or “we need to unite together to prevent this from happening”. Either way, the bracelets were designed to send a message.

Another detail I noticed was the camera’s focus. The Camera is focused on the rhino’s head, showing him suffering and dying. The rhino takes up the majority of the picture; his eyes are closed symbolizing his near end. The emphasis on the rhinos closed eye is important. I think it could symbolize the world in the sense that we don’t see (or choose not to see) issues like animal extinction.

In addition to the bracelets, two of the arms are wearing watches. Both of the watches don’t show a time (maybe due to camera angle). I think the blank watches are metaphors for how we are “out of time” to help the Northern White Rhino. The rhino in the photo is the last on earth so we are too late.

This powerful photo invokes sadness in the audience. The photo is meant to show failure; we are too late. The conservatory’s mission is done but they don’t want us the give up on other animals. This photo wasn’t posted as a “we give up” post but rather a “we have to try harder” message. There are more animals around the world fighting against extinction (whether it’s human-related or not). We need to step up our game before its too late for other animals.

PAS Series: In this Passion blog series, I will be broadcasting my top eight artist(s) that influenced the way I play and write music. As a music theory appreciator, I enjoy playing in my band and writing musical pieces. I want to appreciate the artist(s) that helped inspire my musical hobbies by ranking them in a series of blog posts. Each post, I will feature an artist/band that helps me craft my style. Stay tuned to each post to see who is at number one! 

Finally, my dramatic countdown series comes to an end. The top band has been around since 1998 when they formed in New York. They still produce music to this day which is adored by the pop and alternate world. Here’s a hint: They are widely considered one of the cornerstone alt-bands. Did you guess it? Well if you haven’t odds are you still know The Strokes. Julian Casablancas, Fab, Nick Valencia, Albert Hammond Jr., and Nikolai Fraiture have produced six highly rated albums. Their critically acclaimed music has defined the genre. I first listen to The Strokes my junior year; I was hooked from that moment.

My favorite Strokes song is “You Talk Way Too Much”. This track off Room on Fire is super catchy and is relatively new to me. I’ve listened to all The Strokes songs in ten folds. For some reason, I never really played this song on repeat so I am not fully sick of it yet. The instrumentals on this song are basic, but it’s in their simplicity that I find comfort. The song gives me this nostalgic feeling of winter. The song reminds me of night drives with my friends and skiing trips. I find this ironic since I never really enjoyed this song back then. For some reason, it made a place for itself in my heart.

My favorite Strokes album is “The New Abnormal”. This was the first Strokes album that came out while I was a fan. This album is the greatest album ever created in my opinion. There is a perfect blend of old Strokes fashion with a new funky style. The album is so diverse yet each song is just as good as the next. This is the only album I´ve listened to where there were no bad songs.

The main reason I got into music is the strokes. I’ve been learning different instruments all my life, but never with a clear purpose. When I started playing music with my friends (around the same time I heard of The Strokes), my life changed. I started to invest more purposeful time into music. I started to learn how to drum and then added guitar. After that, I bought a MIDI and me and my friends got to work. The Strokes channeled my love for music into the creative production sphere.

So why should you listen to The Strokes? The Strokes are fundamental musicians; their music is a demonstration of the full potential of music theory. Not to mention they’ve created some of the best songs in existence! “You Only Live Once” so go give The Strokes a listen.

Perhaps you know them from Tiktok, or maybe from movies. Maybe you were there at the release of their debut album (in the records as the most successful Alternate Rock album of all time). If you haven’t heard of them, you’re probably living under a rock. Arctic Monkeys are considered one of the greatest alternative rock bands of all time. The band leader Alex Turner started the band in 2002. The band consists of four highly talented members: Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Matt Helders, and Nick O’Malley. I first heard the Arctic Monkeys as a kid, but I only grew to appreciate their talent my junior year.

My favorite Arctic Monkeys song is hands down, “A Certain Romance”. This song was the last track on the band’s debut album. I first heard this song my junior year, when I finally gave the band a chance. Unlike the other songs on the album, “A Certain Romance” is over five minutes long. I find that this song perfectly sums up the album since it combines the calm and fast styles we hear on previous tracks. The instrumentals and lyrics on this song are near perfect. I’ve been a fan of this song for a while and it just never gets old to me.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that my favorite Arctic Monkeys Album is their best-rated one. For once, I will ride the bandwagon. What Ever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (yes that’s the actual name of the album) was their highly successful debut album released in 2006. The only album to come close to topping this album’s greatness was their most recent release Tranquillity Based Hotel and Casino. Their debut album is my favorite because of its unmatched energy and style. No album after this one quite matched their pure punk roots.

In my own music, the Arctic Monkeys are my second biggest inspiration. The only band to beat them out will be featured in next week’s post. Alternative rock is my favorite genre and Alex Turner is one of the few people who inspired me to create it. My skillset in this genre is limited at the moment, but through more experience, I hope one day my music can sound more like his.

Arctic Monkeys have a wide variety of alternate music. Their diverse albums across various genres make them a versatile band. It’s hard to get a taste for the band by just listening to one song or album. I suggest listening to one song off each album and picking the album in accordance with your favorite of the songs.