It was always said that a picture is worth a thousand words. They do more than depict a scene, they tell a whole story. And like a story, visual media has a purpose or a message left for the viewer to interpret. Some of these messages may be very simple and easy to extract, but other times the message is deep, emotional, and sometimes even personal. Some of these messages are admonitions, precautionary information meant to guide people away from what could happen. This picture's story, which is not as happy as some, is all about how humanity will ultimately destroy itself, leaving any attempts to prosper as futile. It is a warning by the creator, to not let dominance and power get to our heads. To not destroy what we love. The picture depicts a space shuttle buried almost completely in dirt, rubble and debris. In the foreground you can see a man on a horse who seems to be wandering through what looks to be a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Now while most people may think this is merely an interesting wallpaper, it actually represents a very dark and depressing side of humankind. People everywhere constantly wonder what our future holds. Some believe that humans will strive infinitely, while others see humanity as merely another species waiting to go extinct. The creator of this picture (unknown) made it to show how we try so hard to be better than others that we wind up destroying everything we have. A perfect example of this concept is the nuclear arms race, the space race, technological advancements, economic sanctions and political disputes. These all have underlying theme of dominance over another group of people, and all have had negative side effects. 

Many elements in this picture represent different parts of the message or story. The main element is obviously the space shuttle, as it is the biggest and the most illuminated. The space shuttle, covered in dirt, has clearly has never been launched. So why is it so important? It is a testament and a monument to what was, the world before it turned on itself. It represents what could've been had we not destroyed ourselves. It is buried beneath dirt and debris just as the prosperity of mankind is buried beneath jealousy, corruption, and power. The space shuttle is there also as a reminder of the advancements that were once made and the technological prowess that the world once had. The use of light coming from behind the space shuttle gives it a sort of holy and angelic look. With a future as dark as this one, the only remnants of the past are illuminated showing some signs of hope.

The second element in the picture lies in the foreground. A man riding on a horse seems to be wandering the wasteland of a post-apocalyptic world. He represents the corruption and abuse of power in the modern world. He represents the leaders and people who let the power get to them. The darkness that hovers over the man reflects his inner evil, as he walks through the remains of the civilization that he brought to its knees. The man seems to be carrying weapons on his back, giving the impression that he must face his demons. This gives the picture a sort of fallout-esque feel, leaving a lone survivor to scour the earth, left only with the thoughts of a shady past. There is no one and nothing left, leaving him with nothing. Greed leads to loss, leaving nothing to be greedy for. 

The third element in the picture is the setting. The cloudy, overcast skies give a depressing feel and sets the tone for the picture's "story". The foreground is littered with debris and shows the remnants of the world after the social fall of humanity. Nothing is left of the world where kindness and empathy keep us pure. The barren wasteland and cracked, dry ground represents the emptiness and arid world that was left after being stripped of creativity and color. Humanity has become less human, and the setting of this picture perfectly depicts what we could soon become if we don't begin to express who we are and work together to preserve the progress humanity has made in the past.

The world we live in has evolved into a materialistic competition for who has the most influence over others, whether it be through economic prowess, technological advances, militaristic power, or political influence. Power is what has driven humanity to destroy itself. This picture does more than tell a story, it serves as a warning. We as people can't let ourselves get caught up in what makes us as people great, but as a community great. Selfishness taints the minds of those who taint our world's purity. People always seem to forget that in order to strive we have to work together and not let the ignorance of power get to our heads. This picture shows what our future may hold. It is a warning, and we should head this warning.

