video

Impermanence and the Discomfort of Change

Mendiola, Viviana. (2026). Impermanence and the discomfort of change. YouTube. CC-BY-SA-4.0.

This video explores impermanence and the discomfort it brings. The imagery shifts between different stages of my life, and it features a historical photograph, urban scenes, travel images, transitions between living and work spaces, and ocean views. The structure is intentionally uneven. It reflects movement rather than stability.

The images in this project are intentionally ordinary—snapshots taken in moments of transition. Their slight imperfections mirror the theme itself: the unease of movement, the unfinished quality of change.

The ocean appears throughout the video as a quiet constant. I have lived in different places and moved through different roles, but the ocean has remained a visual anchor. I have viewed it from different windows, different cities, different moments in my life. It is both the same and never the same.

In contrast, the other images represent change: new environments, professional transitions, travel, unfamiliar spaces. The discomfort of starting over. The unease of movement. The instability of identity shifting.

Impermanence is often framed romantically, but lived experience is more complicated. Change can be disorienting. It can feel like loss before it feels like growth.

The phrase, “impermanence, the discomfort of impermanence,” names that tension directly. Awareness does not erase difficulty. Understanding that everything changes does not make change easy.

The ocean, however, continues. It remains in motion without resisting that motion. In that sense, it represents continuity beneath instability.

This project reflects on the contrast between the constancy of the ocean in my life and the instability of career shifts, movement, and personal transition. Impermanence does not disappear. It reshapes.

Attributions

Software

Video assembled using the Apple Photos slideshow tool (macOS).
Exported at 1080p resolution using default slideshow export settings.

Images
Original photography by Viviana Mendiola (2026). Microsoft PowerPoint design tools used to add design elements to the original photographs and to text-only slides.
House Boating on the Miami River, Fla. National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress. Public domain image, Picryl.
Title image AI-generated using ChatGPT: prompt “the discomfort of impermanence featuring ocean background.”

Elevator image AI-generated using ChatGPT: prompt “elevator with all floors lit up.”
“Passing” image generated using Microsoft PowerPoint design tools.

Credits image AI-generated using ChatGPT: prompt “credit sources used.”

Music
Upbeat Calm Corporate 100 BPM (Full)” by LiteSaturation (Pixabay Content License).

Voiceover
Original recording by Viviana Mendiola (2026).

The Company You Keep Is Telling

“The Company You Keep Is Telling” by Jaclyne Jones is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Made using WeVideo and exported as an mp4 at 1080p.

Audio Resources:

The Company We Keep (Apoxode rmx)” by Apoxode 2026 – Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (4.0)

Image Resources:

Capital” by c_ambler licensed CC BY 2.0

California Capital Air Show” by aeroman3 is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

Capitalism Kills Love” by buridan is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

protest” by Matthias Rhomberg is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Kiev monk hearing confession during protest” by jimforest is licensed under CC BY 2.0

stanley park” by striatic is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Storm over the northeastern United States” by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

End of an Historic Home” by dok1 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Starving Polar Bear. Svalbard.” by Christopher.Michel is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Marine litter. Most often found: Plastic pieces, bottles, rope, floats and buoys.” by Snemann is marked with CC0 1.0.

Imperial War Museum London #dailyshoot #leshaines123” by Leshaines123 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

“The company you keep is anonymous” by Jaclyne Jones, licensed under CC BY 4.0 is a derivative of “Anonymous Hollywood Scientology protest” by scragz is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Postcard: Stanley Park Zoo Penguin Pool, c.1956” by blizzy63 is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

“Reckoning at the Circus” by Jaclyne Jones licensed under CC BY 4.0 is a derivative of “The End of an Era…..” by tvdflickr is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The scale of the destruction in Tacloban is hard to comprehend” by DFID – UK Department for International Development is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Drought” by Bert Kaufmann is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Students from Pittsburgh, PA take part in the Civil Rights March on Washington” by archivesfoundation is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

No Known Restrictions: ‘Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Waiting for Press Conference’ by Marion S. Trikosko, March 26, 1964 (LOC)” by pingnews.com is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

Protest against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan” by Fibonacci Blue is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Homeless Person – Sunny Umbrella” by Colin Davis Studio is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Greed” by baejaar is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Day 21 Occupy Wall Street October 6 2011 Shankbone 42” by david_shankbone is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) lifted off from Cape Canaveral” by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

“Receding title page” by Jaclyne Jones licensed under CC BY 4.0 is a derivative of “I don´t believe in global warming” by Matt Brown is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

“The Puppeteer Controls the Puppets In the Theater Managing People at Work In Politics And Government Action Control” By Konstantin Konovalov is a Royalty Free stock photo by StoryBlocks

Garbage” by Editor B is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

“…whether they like it or not”

…whether they like it or not by Karen Jesina, Created with Capcut exported to YouTube at 1080, H.264, CC-BY-SA-4.0

Visual Resources:

Audio Resource:

Breaking Barriers



Why I Chose This Theme

March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor the contributions of women throughout history. I chose to focus specifically on Black women because they have continuously broken barriers despite facing systemic challenges designed to suppress their greatness. From civil rights activists to scientists, artists, and athletes, Black women have shaped history and continue to inspire generations.

Why I Chose the Song “Freedom” by Beyoncé & Kendrick Lamar

I selected this powerful cover of “Freedom” by Church by the Glades because it captures the raw emotion of struggle, resilience, and victory. The song itself, originally performed by Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, is an anthem of resistance and perseverance, making it a perfect fit for this project.

The beginning of the song features a speech by Martin Luther King Jr., immediately setting a tone of historical significance and activism. His voice reminds us of the long fight for civil rights and how Black women played an essential role in that movement.

Editing & Effects

To enhance the impact of my video, I added effects that emphasize movement and emotion. I also used strategic pacing to ensure that the images aligned with the beat and intensity of the song. This helps create a strong visual and emotional connection between the viewer and the stories of these remarkable women.

Software Used

For this project, I used Canva to design and edit my video. Canva allowed me to create a clean, visually striking presentation while maintaining a smooth flow between images and text.

Image 1

The Equal Rights Amendment: Yesterday and Today by U.S. National Archives, licensed under Flickr, History.

Image 2

Katherine Johnson by Obanmawhitehouse.archives.gov, licensed under US Government, public Domain.

Image 3
Young Woman Soliciting Funds For A Chicago Organization In A Shopping Center Parking Lot, 08/1973 by U.S. National Archives, licensed under Flickr, History.

Image 4
Religious Fervor is Mirrored on the Face of a Black Muslim Woman, One of Some 10,000 Listening to Elijah Muhammad Deliver His Annual Savior’s Day Message In Chicago, 03/1974 by U.S. National Archives, licensed under Flickr, History.

Image 5
A Black Woman, One Of The Nearly 1.2 Million People Of Her Race Who Make Up Over One Third Of Chicago’s Population, 07/1973 by U.S. National Archives, licensed under Flickr, History.

Image 6
20150326-01-104 by U.S. National Archives, licensed under Flickr, History.

Image 7
Black Woman Selling Gas Filled “Have A Happy Day” Balloons On A Chicago South Side Street Corner At Sox Park Baseball Field, 06/1973 by U.S. National Archives, licensed under Flickr, History.

Image 8

Dorothy_Height by Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, licensed under licensed under Flickr, History.

Image 9

Arline_Yarbrough by Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, licensed under licensed under Flickr, History.

Image 10

Claudette Colvin by GPA Photo Archive, licensed under Flickr, History.  

Image 11

Abna_Lancaster by Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, licensed under licensed under Flickr, History.

Image 12

Alice_Dunnigan by Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, licensed under licensed under Flickr, History.

Image 13

Bazoline_Usher by Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, licensed under licensed under Flickr, History.

Image 14

Ardie_Halyard by Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, licensed under licensed under Flickr, History.

Image 15

Alfreda_Duster by Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, licensed under licensed under Flickr, History.

Broken Media

Edited with iMovie and Canva.

Exported as MP4 , 720 resolution.

Audio Credits 

“Broken Media” by 700P3D. Available for use under the CC BY 4.0 license, at CC Mixer

Image Credits

A Woman in Beige Tank Top” by Leeloo The First, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

“The New York Times Newspaper” by Thom Masat, licensed under Unsplash, some rights reserved.

Woman Sitting on Chair While Reading” by Lisa from Pexels, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

White Spider Web on Brown Wooden Wall” by Batuhan Doğan,, licensed under Unsplash, some rights reserved.

Woman with Pink and Gold Eyeshadow Makeup” by Yunona Uritsky, licensed under Unsplash, some rights reserved.

Grayscale Photo of Woman’s Face” by Marina Pechnikova, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

Girls Doing Makeup” by Kampus Production, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

A Woman with Band Aids on Face Looking in a Broken Mirror” by ShotPot,  licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

“A Woman is Getting Her Makeup Done” by Lauren Greene, licensed under Unsplash, some rights reserved.

Person Holding Fortune Book” by Element5 Digital,  licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

Woman in Black Spaghetti Strap Dress Leaning on Brown Wooden Railing” by Elizaveta Chayko,  licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“Women Wearing Swimsuit Lying on the Plastic” by Ron Lach, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“Girl in Pink Hair Doll” by Matteo Badini, licensed under Unsplash, some rights reserved.

“Emotionless Asian woman in bodysuit standing with hands on waist” by Roberto Hund, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“Woman in Blank Tank Top and Black Pants” by Hannah Xu, licensed under Unsplash, some rights reserved.

“Woman in White Sleeveless Shirt with Blue Eyes” by Joeyy Lee, licensed under Unsplash, some rights reserved.

“Woman Measuring Waistline With a Pink Tape Measure” by Kaboompics, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“White Paint on a Person’s Skin” by Leeloo The First, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“Anonymous overweight woman touching triceps before training” by Andres Ayrton, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

Person Squeezing Her Belly” by Kaboompics, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“Assorted Color Powders” by Igor Rand, licensed under Unsplash, some rights reserved.

“Black and Purple Computer Keyboard” by Brett Jordan, licensed under Unsplash, some rights reserved.

“Woman in Black Leather Jacket Holding Black Smartphone” by Mart Production, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“This is the Sign You’ve Been Looking For” by Austin Chan, licensed under Unsplash, some rights reserved.

“Portrait of Woman Wearing Black Underwear and Holding a Bouquet of Flowers” by Polina Tankilevitch, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“Inspiring Message on Mirror: Love Yourself” by Lisa from Pexels, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

“Two Woman Sitting on Bed Inside Room” by Billie,  licensed under Unsplash, some rights reserved.

“Woman in Red Spaghetti Strap Top” by Stephany Lorena,  licensed under Unsplash, some rights reserved.

“Woman in a Black Top Smiling while Looking Sideways” by Anna Shvets, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

“Woman in White Lace Dress” by Polina,  licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

“A Young Woman Smiling while Holding a Mirror” by Cottonbro Studio, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

“Elderly Woman Looking at Mirror” by Anna Shvets, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

“Three Young Women Posing Together” by Polina Tankilevitch, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“Silhouette of Pregnant Woman in Studio Setting” by Kalz UG Micheal, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“Empowering Neon Sign with Woman at Night” by Miriam Espacio, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

Little Girls Standing on a Grass Field by Olia Danilevich, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“Person Looking Sideways While Holding a Placard” by Viktoria Slowikowska, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“Grayscale Photo of a Woman Wearing a Boxing Gloves” by Наталья Водопад,  licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“Child Training Martial Art” by RDNE Stock project, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“A Woman in Orange Cardigan Sitting Between Her Daughters Standing Near the Pink Flowers” by Sofia Shultz, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved. 

“Girl in Purple Crew Neck Shirt” by Cottonbro Studio, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

“Girl With Face Paint Wearing White Crew Neck Shirt” by Cottonbro Studio, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

“A Little Girl Holding a Stuffed Animal and a Flower” by Laura Marks,  licensed under Unsplash, some rights reserved.

“A Girl Blowing Confetti” by Cottonbro Studio, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

“Three Young Girls Standing Near White Table” by Cottonbro Studio, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

“Studio Shoot of a Smiling Girl Wearing Green Polo Neck and Braces” by Gabriella Ally, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

“Mother and Daughter Running on a Beach” by Ekaterina Nt, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

“Dreamy Duo” by Mariah Fuertes, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

“Group of Women in Tank Tops Posing” by Olia Danilevich, licensed under Pexels, some rights reserved.

Kids!

I edited this video using Canva!

Audio credits

“Borrowed Time” by Jon Shuemaker retrieved from Free Music Archive is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

Visual Credits

“Livvy and Ani Home Video” by Liv Sampogna is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

“Little Girls Hand Touches Tree” by The Stacks was retrieved from Pond5 and used with an individual commercial license

“Jack Frost (1934)” by Ub Iwerks was retrieved from Archive.org and is dedicated to the Public Domain

“Madeline” by Ludwig Bemelmans was retrieved from Archive.org and is dedicated to the Public Domain

“The Librarian” by Holmes (Burton) Films, Inc. was retrieved from Archive.org and is dedicated to the Public Domain

“School Children in Mitchells Plain” by Bernard303 was retrieved from Wikimedia Commons and is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

“A Young Tibetan Indian Monk, Ladakh” by GetMyStock was retrieved from Pond5 and used with an individual commercial license

“School Daze (1942)” by Eddie Donnelly was retrieved from Archive.org and is dedicated to the Public Domain

Alien Contact

Alien Contact by Theo Thomas is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.

Software

I used Kdenlive to edit this video.

Music

into you feat. missjudged by madimpactunit

Images

A Boat on Water by Rahime Gül
A Man Swimming next to a Whale by Elianne Dipp
An Underwater Shot of a Woman Diving by Polina Tankilevich
Close-Up Photo of Jellyfish by Hung Tran
Clownfish Under Water Near Coral Reefs by hille brand
Divers Swimming Over the Corals by Tom Fisk
Gray and Silver School of Fish Underwater Photography by Peter Simmons
Man Diving in Darkness by Jake Houglum
People Diving at a Coral Reef by Leonardo Lamas
Person in Black Wet Suit Swimming in the Sea by Frank Cordeiro
Photo of Woman Swimming Underwater by ArtHouse Studio
Pink Fish Swimming in Dark Water by Aleksey Bystrov
Reservoir with Fish by limoo
Stingray in Blue Water by W W
Underwater Photo of Air Bubbles by Francesco Ungaro
Underwater Photography of a Stingray by Elianne Dipp
Underwater Picture of Man Diving by Jordi MB
Underwater Picture of Man Diving [different from the first] by Jordi MB
Unrecognizable man snorkeling in azure seawater by Kammeran Gonzalez-Keola
Vessel on Sea Coast in Storm by Pok Rie
Water with Bubbles by Francesco Ungaro
Woman in Gray Wetsuit and White Flippers Swimming Underwater by ArtHouse Studio
Woman submerged Underwater by Polina Tankilevich
Yellow Fish in Nature by Victor Suarez

Iconic Animation from The 19th and 20th Centuries

Edited with Canva, Capcut, and DaVinci Resolve.

“Hotter Than That” by Louis Armstrong (1927 Version)”  was recorded on December 13, 1927 licensed under CC0 Downloaded from the Internet Archive

]“Lanature1882 praxinoscope projection reynaud ” by Louis Poyet Licensed under CC0  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons
“Prof. Stampfer’s Stroboscopische Scheibe No. X” by Simon Ritter von Stampfer Uploaded by Joortje1  Licensed under CC0  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Optical Toy, Phenakistiscope Disc with Cats and Donkey, ca. 1830” by MiguelMunoz Licensed under CC0  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Original Eadweard Muybridge Animation of The Horse in Motion” by Eadweard Muybridge Licensed under CC0.Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons.

“Phenakistoscope 3g07690a” by Eadweard Muybridge Licensed under CC0.  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Dog galloping slow motion” Photos made by Eadweard Muybridge  Animation by Waugsberg Licensed under CC0  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Muybridge race horse animated” by Eadweard Muybridge Uploaded by Trialsanderrors Licensed under CC0  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Gertie (1)” by Winsor McCay Licensed under CC0 Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Gertie the dinosaur standing on a cliff edge looking at a mastodon” by Winsor McCay Licensed under CC0.  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Gertie the Dinosaur with her mouth open” by Winsor McCay Licensed under CC0  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Gertie the Dinosaur looks in from offscreen (original art)” by Winsor McCay Licensed under CC0.  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“A Felix prototype in Feline Follies (1919)” by Pat Sullivan Licensed under CC0  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons 

“Felix arriving in Hollywood” by Pat Sullivan Studios Licensed under CC0  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons 

Felix-chaplin” by Pat Sullivan and Otto Messmer Licensed under CC0  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons 

“Non Stop Fright (1927)” by Pat Sullivan and Otto Messmer Licensed under CC0  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons 

“Felix Laff” by Denis Barthel Licensed under CC0  Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons 

“Oswald Smiles” (Tall Timber, 1928)” by Walt Disney Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Oswaldrabbitwave” by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks 

“Oswald empty socks 08” by Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney  Licensed under CC0 Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Steamboat Willie” by Walt Disney  Licensed under CC0 Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Mickey Mouse concept art (clear version)” by Ub Iwerks  Licensed under CC0 Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Ub Iwerks Mickey Mouse and Pete production drawing from Galloping Gaucho 1-1″ by Ub Iwerk Licensed under CC0 Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Plane Crazy” by Walt Disney Licensed under CC0 Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Plane Crazy (1928) storyboard 04” by Ub Iwerks Licensed under CC0 Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Karnival Kid storyboard 09” by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks 
Licensed under CC0 Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

“Karnival Kid storyboard 03” by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks 
Licensed under CC0 Downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

The Good Life (Video Assignment)

I used ClipChamp and PowerPoint to make my video. I exported the PowerPoint slides as a video file (.mp4). I then uploaded it into ClipChamp with my music so I could then mix the two together. This was saved as a .mp4 file as well.

∙Music

#1 Celebrity by milkdaddy Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) from ccMixter

∙Pictures

Hilary Duff – Candids In Denim Shorts In New York – August 2016 by Century Black licensed under Public Domain from Flickr

Mordeno Magazine. by jenipur13 licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (2.0) from Flickr

Celebrity by Thomas Hawk licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (2.0) from Flickr

Local celebrity caught by Sten Tamkivi licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike (2.0) from Flickr

Diane Lane by Emily licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike (2.0) from Flickr

Orient Beach, St. Maarten by Austin Appel licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike (2.0) from Flickr

Pavement Celebrities by Terry Kearney licensed under Public Domain from Flickr

DSC00104 by Jake Dobkin licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike (2.0) from Flickr

celebrities by bocata licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike (2.0) from Flickr

Singers by Mariya Senenko licensed under Public Domain from Flickr

Hollywood by abgpt licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (2.0) from Flickr

Hollywood by abgpt licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (2.0) from Flickr

Hollywood by abgpt licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (2.0) from Flickr

Hollywood by abgpt licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (2.0) from Flickr

Hollywood by abgpt licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (2.0) from Flickr

Paparazzi by Anthony Acosta licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike (2.0) from Flickr

Zivity Paparazzi Shoot by Dav Yaginuma licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike (2.0) from Flickr

Zivity Paparazzi Shoot by Dav Yaginuma licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike (2.0) from Flickr

paparazzi by washingtonydc licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike (2.0) from Flickr

Paparazzi by mary hodder licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike (2.0) from Flickr

Lindsay Lohan Paparazzi by Ben Christen licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (2.0) from Flickr

Paparazzi by Jamie Mellor licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike (2.0) from Flickr

Paparazzi! by David Fisher licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike (2.0) from Flickr

Paparazzi by Edward Peters licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (2.0) from Flickr

Paris-Jackson-in-Jeans—07 by galeria.paris licensed under Public Domain from Flickr