Author Archives: s.tashin

Recitatif is the only short story published by Toni Morrison. The story focuses upon the relationship between two girls who are named Twyla and Roberta, beginning at the time of the orphanage and continuing to adulthood. Morrison explores themes of maternity, social status and race throughout the story. However, one important detail observed in Morrison’s text is that she does not mention the race of the two main characters. In fact, Morrison tries her best to keep their race ambiguous through their descriptions and ideals.

Toni Morrison’s short story is similar to a story that I have read a while ago as well. Recitatif is quite similar to a novel written by Chris Crowe which is known as Mississippi Trial, 1955.

The novel Mississippi Trial,1955 is about a murder of a child named Emmett Till. The narrator of the story is a white boy named Hiram who revisits his old town in Mississippi where he finds out that his childhood friend, Emmett Till has been murdered. The novel is based on the true story of the racially motivated murder of Emmett Till.

The two texts are similar and different to one another in many ways. In Recitatif, Twyla and Roberta’s relationships evolve and are challenged throughout their lives from their first introduction to one another in the orphanage and then to them talking in the restaurant as adults at the end. Hiram and Emmett’s relationship is fairly similar to Twyla and Roberta’s. Hiram and Emmett both met at a young age and they both befriended one another. The idea of race prevails in their relationship just like in Recitatif. Hiram’s and Emmett’s relationship changes throughout the story but unlike Twyla and Roberta whose relationship change due to the events of “bussing” and being apart from one another, Hiram’s and Emmett’s relationship change due to Hiram’s grandfather dislike their friendship and their distance from each other for a few years. Family plays a vital role in Mississippi Trial, 1955 unlike in Recitatif.

Although Recitatif isn’t as dark as Mississippi Trial the idea of race connects both of these stories since the two main characters in each story are from different races and both of their worlds collide as they begin and continue their friendship. However, Morrison attempts to keep race ambiguous while Chris Crowe keeps it prominent and obvious throughout his story.

-Sadat Tashin

The MoMa is quite an interesting place. Although many art museums focus upon the distant past, MoMA only focuses upon modern art, architecture and modernism. MoMa has many exhibits ranging from African American art to Eastern European architecture. As I walked through the exhibits, I found it difficult to choose an art piece to discuss about because all of them seemed interest and fascinate me. I was stuck with a dilemma on which art piece to choose. However, the dilemma was soon resolved when I noticed a peculiarly large painting on the third floor.

The painting “The Last Supper” by Andy Warhol may seem like a non-genuine version of Da Vinci’s painting of the same name but a not-so-closer look will prove the viewer wrong. It is watermarked with three huge Logos. Warhol’s “Last Supper” was created in 1986, one year before Warhol’s death. Warhol is famous for mass producing well known images or paintings with advertisements on them. Warhol was one of the pioneers of this genre of art known as “Pop Art”.

“The Last Supper” is no different from Warhol’s other paintings. He uses the same techniques and principles of Pop Art into this painting. The canvas is a traced image of the original Last Supper from Leonardo Da Vinci’s work. However, Warhol then added in the Logos of two major companies: Dove and General Electric. The third logo is the iconic price tag seen in many advertisements during that time. However, this is one of many variations of this painting that Warhol has created. However, this one was the only one put on display at MoMA

Although the painting may seem banal to some or even inappropriate towards religion, Warhol’s painting expresses a real and vital theme to the viewers. Warhol is famously known for making significant and original paintings, banal and shocking using advertisements or painting over them. However, all of this is just a product of Warhol’s modernist ideology. Warhol purposely adds these colorful logos into this black in white painting to convey a message of Capitalism watermarking itself into religion. This painting shows how our society has “evolved” to the point in which we seem to celebrate religious events and holidays through a capitalist point of view. Warhol’s utilization of logos and price tags within the painting displays our consumerist ideals to buy and stock up on gifts for the holidays. For example, Christmas in the United States has turned from a religious holiday of celebrating Christ’s birth to a commercially sponsored day of sales, gifts and product placements. Warhol carefully conducts a professional criticism of our current society using his ideas of modernism and Pop Art.

Warhol’s painting may seem peculiar at first but if closely analyzed, it has a clear and concise message of Capitalism’s prominence in every religion. However, the painting still rises many questions in my head. One of these questions is, why did Warhol make the Last Supper drawing black and white but the logos colorful? Was it an aesthetic design? Or was it more of budget/economic decision? It can also possibly be another comment on capitalism and religion.

-Sadat Tashin

Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he’s so vulnerable to Tartuffe?

Orgon is the head of the household in the family that the drama focuses upon. However, ironically Orgon doesn’t seem to have a legitimate authority since everyone in the family doubts him and Tartuffe. In fact, Orgon is basically a sheep being herded by Tartuffe since he goes to any length to please Tartuffe. Orgon’s relationship with Tartuffe is basically Moliere’s criticism of the relationship between the Monarchy and the Church in France during this period. The French Monarch seemed to take the advise of the Church more than his own subjects even though most of the Church’s advice come in conflict with the interest of the public. Orgon’s relationship with Tartuffe can be seen the same way. Orgon takes everything that Tartuffe says seriously. He tries his best to please Tartuffe believing that if he can please a “pious” man then God will be pleased with him. However, Tartuffe is a hypocrite. He is not a pious person nor is he religious. Everything that Tartuffe apparently preaches, he himself does the opposite which contradict his preaches. During this period, the catholic church of France had the same level of hypocrisy as Tartuffe, they paid less taxes, got more favor from the king and seemed to hold a lot of wealth even though the church preaches for modesty. Hence, Orgon is basically a blind king in his own family who is being controlled by the hypocrite Tartuffe.

Hello everyone. My name is Sadat Tashin. After having had read all of your introductions I myself began to believe that my life isn’t really as interesting as all of yours. However, since I’m required to do this introduction, I hope you all understand what I am about to tell you about my life is a true story.

My name is Sadat, I have already said that twice by now so my name is probably stuck in all of your heads. I was born in Sadat Land and I came here when I was two years old. My dad was a man of nobility who was on the run from the old country and decided that we should all move to the United States to escape persecution since Sadat Land had a communist revolution twenty years ago and they were prosecuting former aristocrats of the old regime.  Since i barely know enough about my country, all I know is that I was named after it.

Anyway I spent 98% of my life here in the United States so far. I grew up in Elmhurst, Queens and I went to school in Elmhurst as well up until High School. As I grew up in New York City, my parents would tell me tales of the old country and how life was better for them before the communist revolutionaries overthrew our king. I used to listen to these stories with wide eyes as I would imagine myself being in them, except I wasn’t the one who would be dead in these stories.

When I got to High School, things changed for me. I started having more responsibilities, more fun and started doing more questionable things. However, one day, when I picked up some Pokemon cards that were on the floor of a hallway in school, I realized something when I was studying the picture of Charmander. Sometimes if you want change, you gotta do it yourself.

And that’s the story of how I made a plan to go to Baruch College, learn as much as I can and go back to Sadat Land and overthrow the communist regime, set up my own government and become King. The End.

Okay, 99% of what I just wrote was all fake. I tried my best to lie about my life to make it more interesting but I’m guessing that didn’t work. Here’s the real story of my life:

I was born in Bangladesh in 1999. My family decided to move here when I was just two, for reasons which I don’t know even to this date (We were pretty rich in Bangladesh so I don’t know why my dad decided to take the “L” and move here).

I don’t really remember much about my life in Bangladesh since I grew up in New York City. I’m from the Queens and I had most of my education there until High School, where I went to Brooklyn Tech. I decided to go to Baruch since it’s a pretty nice college and it’s in the city so I can just stay home and let my mom clean up after me. It’s my second year in Baruch and so far I’m liking it here. When I’m not chilling in Baruch, I chill with my friends or at home and play the guitar sometimes. However, ever since I became an adult I was met with the task of responsibilities which I’m still forced to accept even to this day.

So far, my life’s been okay and not that interesting but let’s see how it goes I still got a lot more years to go before I die unless I do something stupid.