Invasion of Privacy: The Whale
Photo courtesy of Dani Scolton
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Earlier this month, the State University of New York at Geneseo was blessed with the presence of a 65-foot inflatable whale, as part of a three-day science and art event meant to raise awareness on the impacts of climate change. Much enthusiasm surrounded the whale during their time on campus, but one question remains unanswered: what about the personality behind the whale? What makes this remarkable individual who they are today? Fortunately, we were able to sit down with the whale during their time on campus.
Arriving at the college green to begin the interview with the whale, I was initially nervous to approach, intimidated by the sheer size of the entity I was supposed to begin a discussion with. To my relief, the whale I came to know was a welcoming, almost familiar presence, despite never having met them before. To begin our interview, I asked the whale how they were growing accustomed to being at Geneseo. They expressed gratitude with the campus, who the whale stated was accommodating and understanding throughout the entire time they were here.
When asked about what brought them to Geneseo, the whale answered that they were “drawn to the area, and the almost calm serenity the river valley provided.” I was surprised to find the whale to be a particularly erudite and well-spoken individual. I asked about the educational background of the whale, given that they presently found themself on a college campus. They responded that in their free time, they often read some of the great works of the English language—including, quite ironically, Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.
As I continued my interview with the whale, I also discovered a more somber, introspective side; I discovered an individual deeply concerned with the world they inhabited, and the impacts the actions of humanity were having on the Earth. I began to ask about what caused them to become so passionate about speaking on the changing climate and ecosystems of the world, and they responded that “the struggles that not just my less inflatable compatriots face, but which also plague other aquatic creatures, are ones that are seldom discussed. If I can even get one person to understand what is happening, then I’ve done my job spreading awareness.”
After discussing the whale’s role in climate awareness, I was informed my interview time was running short, and that I had to finish relatively quickly. With my remaining time, I began to ask simple icebreaker questions, including on favorite food and entertainment media. The whale responded that they were partial to seafood dishes, and that their favorite movie was the 1993 film Free Willy. After these questions, I thanked the whale for their time, and we parted on our separate ways.
After the conclusion of my interview, I began to feel emotional reflecting on the whale’s answers to my questions. I found that I had grown quite fond of the whale, and their passion for their work and the message they worked to spread. Here was a deeply intelligent figure, working towards the betterment of the Earth not just for themself, but for all other kinds of whales, inflatable or otherwise. While the whale is no longer on campus with us, the great message they worked towards will no doubt leave a lasting impression on all those who came into contact with them.