Topic > Look beyond Toronto: an investigation of the effects of landscape on Canadian music through the work of Harlan Pepper

Canadian musicians are more likely to write about landscape, more specifically about their connections to their homeland, what the focal points of their region or simply tell a story. The reason is that Canada is very fortunate to have possessed many of nature's greatest visions and just wants to share them with others. I wanted to choose Ontario as a region and we cannot deny the fact that this province is mainly known for its huge capital, Toronto. Most are unaware of Ontario's vast natural environment because their hatred of Toronto prevents them from looking beyond. Harlan Pepper is a band I chose for their song “Great Lakes”. The title itself is simple, and if you don't already know, the Great Lakes are one of Ontario's most important artifacts. Canadian art, in this case music, is a form of expression influenced by the individual's surroundings. It's another simple and creative way to show appreciation for your country and its landscape on a geographic or local level. For the rest of this article, I want to share what I've discovered in terms of Ontario's geography, including other landmarks. Towards the end, I will delve into how Harlan Pepper's work was influenced by the Ontario landscape by analyzing the lyrics of their song. To conclude, this article will present the dots that connect together, leading us to the answer of how the Canadian landscape influences Canadian music. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay To connect the landscape to a certain piece of music, I first decided to learn about the landscape of my region. Starting from clichés and going beyond. I used a variety of sources such as articles, videos, encyclopedias, etc. To collect information. Then I looked for an artist who connected to this panorama and I ended up with a band called Harlan Pepper. I listened to their songs and found one that was perfectly represented by the immense landscape of that region. After connecting their lyrics to the landscape, I concluded that music can be strongly influenced by one's view of one's region. In this case, Harlan Pepper was very influenced by a popular mainland that Ontario is known for. Are you from Canada? Toronto, right? – the landscape of Ontario Most people outside Canada are familiar with the name Toronto due to its urban characteristics or the title it holds of “the most multicultural city in the world”. What this group of people typically don't see is the province of Toronto as a whole, i.e. Ontario. Now, getting into the Canadian perspective, what are their thoughts on this region? What kind of landscape do they invent when they hear about Ontario? I have found that Canadians get nervous when they hear the word Ontario and automatically target Toronto. I wanted to know why they hate the city and I came across the video "Why people hate Toronto!". The interviewer asked multiple people in Quebec what they thought of the city. One read: “The best view of Toronto is in the rearview mirror of your car.” Another said: "It's a disease." One even made a play on words: "This is terrible." . . ' But the video also pointed me towards another major stereotype, "Torontonians have egos" (narcity). They claim that Toronto thinks it is the center of the universe, or in this case, the center of Canada. They see it as a self-centered urbanized city but, again, these are just the thoughts of Quebecers. In other parts of Canada, especiallyin more rural areas, they know the geography of Ontario and that it is not the same as Toronto. Ontario is also best known for its vast mountains and large lakes. It's not all urbanized, in fact Ontario's geography is just as diverse as the people who live in Toronto. Ranging from rivers, forests, mountains and lakes. I want to take some time and introduce Ontario as a province, exploring the nature it has and exposing the beauty that isn't just Niagara Falls or the CN Tower. Hamilton, for example, is the fourth largest urban city but also has numerous attractions involving the natural environment. I came across an interesting fact that really took me by surprise. Hamilton Mountain is dotted with more than 100 waterfalls, thanks to a combination of the mountain's height (330 feet high), rock erosion and water sources, hence the name "City of Waterfalls" (multi -area). I personally had no idea Hamilton had so many waterfalls. My favorite of all is the Devil's Punchbowl located in Stoney Creek. It is a waterfall 121 feet high and 10 feet wide. The colorful layers of rocks date back a million years. Nearby is a 10 meter high steel cross, built by a local resident in 1966 to “bring light to the community”. Cootes Paradise is also a well-known attraction with the land being 55% agricultural, 30% woodland, 10% urban and 5% undesignated. It is located at the western end of Lake Ontario. The place has the largest concentration of plants in Canada and is home to multiple different living things. Within the area are the Royal Botanic Gardens which consist of five garden areas that anyone can explore. Of the five, Hendrie Park (Rose Garden) is my definitive aesthetic. The flowers look so vibrant under the sunlight and give me a very relaxing feeling even if I'm not physically there. There is so much more to explore and these beautiful places are just the smallest particles of Hamilton's nature. The five Great Lakes make up 20% of the world's fresh water, and four out of five are spread across Ontario. Each destination offers different features and you can choose according to your preferences. Lake Huron is a place to experience cottage living. It consists of relatively warm water, a long stretch of sandy beaches, and spectacular scenes both above and below the water. Many people frequent the lake for swimming, boating, hiking and diving. In Lake Erie. you can try skydiving, obviously with an expert if you are new. There are numerous places to eat where the beautiful lake is a backdrop that you can enjoy. It also has national parks to relax in and other beautiful beaches to visit. Lake Superior is for those who love the great outdoors. The area is generally known to be colder, but it can be a perfect place to camp, being surrounded by forests, waterfalls, beautiful hiking trails, fishing, and vast wilderness. Major attractions include Kakabeka Falls, the second largest waterfall by capacity. Agawa Canyon tourist train, which will take you to the most beautiful landscapes. It is highly recommended to visit during autumn for a colorful adventure. The lake [image: ] Ontario has an interesting history. 50 people had their turn to swim across the lake, but the first to do so was Marilyn Bell, who was 16 years old at the time, in 1954. So, if you ever feel challenged, you could be the next to cross the lake . There's a place called Scarborough Bluffs. It is an escarpment in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario. With such a scenic landscape, The Bluffs is truly mesmerizing and climbing to the top can reward you with a panoramic view of Lake Ontario. If you ever have.