Noa Cosette-Tape

It is no mystery that music holds influence and impact. Music can influence your perspective in many different areas of life. In other words, “music has the ability to deeply affect our mental states and raise our mood. When we need it, music gives us energy and motivation. When we're worried, it can soothe us; when we're weary, it can encourage us; and when we're feeling deflated, it can re-inspire us.” In the same way music can also inspire or also alter our opinions regarding social topics as well. In today’s world, more recent music will sometimes include controversial topics in order to influence or add to our personal thoughts of those topics. One big topic that music holds alot of influence over is gender. Gender plays a big role in music. Artists use music as a platform to express their feelings, opinion, experiences, backgrounds, etc. and with that sometimes comes the impression of gender and even sexual identity. One way this is displayed is “it has been suggested...

  American Graduation Ceremonies At my high school graduation, like many other graduations they played the well known “Pomp and Circumstance” song; also known as the Graduation Walking March song. This song has a steady beat played by mostly aerophones like flutes and clarinets. Whenever I hear this song, my mind immediately goes back to my graduation- and I’m sure this happens to most people, considering how iconic this song is. The phrase “Pomp and Circumstance” means “impressive formal activities or ceremonies.” The title comes from a line in Shakespeare's Othello ("Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!") in 1901, and was first composed by Sir Edward Elgar. Along with this specific song played at the ceremony of highschool or college graduations, caps and gowns are assigned to the students which are highly associated with this event; in other words, you won't hear this song without seeing those outfits (caps and gowns). The specific attire plays hand-and-h...