Student Posts

The calmness during the destruction and fighting for freedom can be seen in the marketplace, where people can gather and continue to uplift each other. Looking through the many vendors and their differing trades, you can see the people conversing and catching up on any news or gossip while bartering and selling or buying. This idyll is a relief for the many that live in bombed houses and areas, allowing Palestinians to remember the normalcy inside the insanity.

I was interested in this photo since it reminded me so much of the marketplaces that I have visited in Honduras. Sometimes, I forget that certain places can have the same feelings and emotions in any part of the world.

Many fans and or listeners of Jazz Music don’t know the behind-the-scenes mechanics. It’s crucial for the drummer to keep proper time for the entire ensemble to stay on tempo. This is done by using the snare drum pictured above. You hear in the audio file the snare drum being stroked on the 2 & 4 when counting. I’m a percussionist and I love live music, this interest drew me to the audio and image selection. The meaning is enhanced by combing my two selections.

“Sunrise or sunset: If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all,” is something my dad would say when I’d tell him about my New Year’s Day plans. I have it set every year, for the last four years: my partner and I wake up an hour before sunrise, stretch, and make the drive to the nearest beach. Then we take out our blankets, for sitting and huddling, and we wait. A picture wouldn’t do it justice, it couldn’t capture that initial flash of gold as it peaks just over the watery horizon. It just can’t and, frankly, if I move, I’ll miss so much more than just that sunrise.

See, it’s more than just seeing the sun rise on the first day of the new year. It’s also about that moment when it feels like the whole world is holding its breath and quietly cheering on the day. Sometimes there are clouds and sometimes it’s a lot colder than we could have anticipated. I fell for the song first, because it reminded me of that anticipation of watching a sunrise, of a sunset, and of those quiet moments in-between its travels. The image puts everything into perspective.

Even though the image may not be from Florida, or even a beach, its colors are familiar.

One of the things I love about traveling is that no matter where you go, there will be things that are different, but there will also be things that inevitably remind you of home. Take this image for instance. Shibuya is one of the busiest places in Japan and is well known for the large sidewalks that people walk across every day. I remember crossing it myself in the rain. What sounds come to mind when you think of the bustling city? What about when it’s raining? For me, soothing sounds.

Despite the fast pace of the city, the rain calms me. I can envision light Jazz playing in the background. It’s as though everything is fast and slow at the same time. Fun to think about, no? Rain can drown out most sounds, so in a way, naturally quiet places and naturally loud places sound the same. The next time you feel like you need a break, think about the sound of rain and some jazz and perhaps it might help you relax and think of home!

Walking around on the weekend. Visiting all the beautiful side streets. Wandering for hours on end with no plans. This is what my dream weekend looks like. When I put my headphones in, just putting on some background noise keeps me moving. Often, I find the best stores or restaurants when I get to wander. I will look for streets I’ve never been down and check them out.

Being able to put in your headphones, let the world disappear, and wander aimlessly is the most relaxing and chill thing I have ever done.

This image of Walking On Sunshine And A Red Headphone by Alfred Grupstra is what I look like to the rest of the world on the days when I get to wander around. It’s beautiful and calming with the warmth of a new world. The song Chilling by Popoi has the beat of the steps, but also the upbeat tone of a casual stroll without too much excitement or adventure. Just a sense to keep moving.

At first glance, this image creates the sense of a busy and crowded scene with lots of people and lots of noise. The audience might be focused mainly on the background because it is in focus, while the taxi is blurry. However, paired with the audio, I wanted to shift the focus back to the taxi and the person inside. The piano music creates a feeling of loneliness and melancholy. I imagine the audience looking through the lens of the one person inside the taxi, seeing the crowds outside passing in a blur. None of them paying are any attention to that one taxi, furthering this sense of loneliness. Additionally, the tempo of the music further emphasized the speed of the taxi as it’s passing all of these people in a blur. I imagine the person in the taxi looking out the window, trying to see the people on the streets but isn’t able to pick any one person out of the crowd.