Author Archives: Shivani Sharma
Racism
Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, so far, is a brilliant film. Especially the scene when Mookie confronts Pino about his racism. Pino’s favorite anything is a black man yet he is so strongly bothered by Mookie and his friendship with Vino. Pino’s excuse, however, is something incredibly stupid: “well they’re not really black.”
Even though this film takes place in 1989, its issues are still highly relevant today. Time and time again I hear many say that blacks just aren’t black enough anymore, as if that makes sense. This is why this movie is so funny to me because it shows the stupidity of the truth. Black people are black but not everyone is the same. Same with Italians, Puerto Ricans, Asian, Jews… Everyone creates certain stereotypes in order to group people together. However, this just becomes harder to identify them, to hate or to love them.
– Shivani Sharma
Bad Then Worse
I found the text very difficult to read and understand. Like Jessina, I also found the story weak on some parts. Obviously, the duel in Act I, scene iii showed Richard’s incompetence as a wise leader. He makes unnecessary decisions too little too late. Clearly Richard is not smart. As shown in Act II, scene ii, he leaves England with the entire army leaving the country, basically, vulnerable to any and all attacks. The man is also quite fickle. At one moment he rashly denounces Bagot, Bushy, and Greene and the next moment (after learning the the whole truth) Richard rambles on about the sadness of their death. I was happy knowing that Richard will be overthrown. However, Henry Bolingbroke is not a good replacement. He seems to be full of it. Instead of acting like a grown man who might be seen to be a good leader, Bolingbroke acts childishly when accusing Mowbray of treachery (Act I, scene i). With no proof to support his accusation, Bolingbroke uses violence as the only way to solve such issues of honor. Then, after the duel, instead of bearing the punishment and going into exile, like Mowbray had, Bolingbroke needs to dramatically walk away by moaning and complaining. Moreover, if Bolingbroke’s only intention was to gain back his lost property, then there should be no need to execute so many people and imprison the king. Henry was being very deceptive when giving Richard his ultimatum. Lying is not a good characteristic for a ruler since it’s a sign of a coward.
Kid’s a Genius
In his play, Don Juan, Moliere conveys social messages of atheism, adultery, and stupidity. Throughout the play, Don Juan refuses to change his views towards life. He believes the sole aim is to attain as much pleasure as possible. The pleasure of sex and conquest are attained through women. Thus, once the need is satisfied, women become disposable objects. And then it is on to the next one. Atheism, on the other hand, gives Don Juan the pleasure of complete freedom. Juan is free to do as he wishes since his parents seem to have no control over him. His parents only job is to preserve their own honor by creating excuses for their shameless son. However, as an atheist, Don Juan disregards any higher authority. He answers to no one and is morally responsible for nothing.
Don Juan accepts hypocrisy as a new way of living. Don Juan can still do whatever he desire, but now his excuse of “it’s what the Heavens wish” is less controversial than “it’s want I wish.” No one dares to question God’s will. In this way, no one truly knows his motives. Thus, he has no pressure by hearing the taunts from his father, servant, women, and society in general. Many, today, abuse holy scriptures and ideals to fit their own views. Contorting such truths enforces horrendous acts such as: terrorism in the name of Jihad, racism in the name of brotherhood, and suicide in the name of repentance.
Renewal
Tracks are now covered
Metal turned to stone
New city discovered
To be with all yet alone
Silent together
Afraid to destroy
Even in bad weather
Travelers have joy
City sounds reduced
Life now awakened
Beauty introduced
Greenery taken
It’s cruel not to love
The High Line above
– Shivani Sharma
P & R
To be perfectly honest, I never heard of Patti Smith or Robert Mapplethorpe before reading this memoir, Just Kids. However, I could not be happier to be introduced to the life that she lived and the people she was surrounded by. I am very judgmental and have always viewed punk rock groups or, really, any type of rock ‘n’ roll group as being prone to heavy drugs, sadomasochism, and sketchy things of that sort. Fortunately, as I read this memoir I’m beginning to see that all my previous notions are false.
Patti and Robert share a very gentle, romantic, affectionate bond without the need to be lewd or dangerous. They are very understanding, loyal, and trusting of one another. Robert has a very quiet and gentle side which seems contradictory to his drawings of blood splattered wooden box covering male genitals as mentioned in the interview. Although Patti was frightened by this, she soon accepted it from an aesthetic point of view. Everyone goes through tough periods where the most malicious of thoughts occur. No one is black or white, everyone is gray, everyone has moments of tenderness as well as moments of intolerable pain and anger. Patti states that she was worried that Robert might be heading down a destructive dangerous path. Moreover, this memoir focuses on the transformation Patti and Robert face by going down these paths to “find ourselves” which really is the goal for every human being, not just aspiring artists.
– Shivani Sharma
Story Time
Why are there so many animals?… Just wondering.
Immigration seems to be one of the main themes this semester because the autobiography in English class, Brother I’m Dying, discusses the similar difficulty of the transition immigrants suffer through.
This new land, most likely New York, is depicted as a refuge for people who have to escape the horrors from their own country. The main character, with the intention of bringing his wife and daughter over, leaves home because he and his family are being oppressed. These feelings are evident from their fear-ridden facial expressions, the deserted streets, and the lurking shadows of scary-looking claws. We can sense that there is something dark and evil present although, we might not be able to pinpoint exactly what, or who, it is.
Every person the main character engages with talks about his past and the horrors his country possessed, which were, surprisingly, all different. The first man faced mass genocide in his country, which possibly depicted the Holocaust. The old man escaped the damages of war in his country. All here now working with a huge smile on their face did nothing but encourage the main character to achieve this kind of life too. The “American Dream” being not the riches of the world on your doorstep but being the chance of peace and safety. With this fact, one can lead a happy, mostly mediocre financial, life.
Right is Rieff
“May the lives remembered, the deeds recognized, and the spirit reawakened be eternal beacons, which reaffirm respect for life, strengthen our resolve to preserve freedom and inspire an end to hatred, ignorance, and intolerance.”
Fighting words, indeed.
I love the fact that Rieff so candidly pointed out that these services of remembrance is one of the ways for the government to keep a hold on American society and our sentiments. It forces us to remember that which we can so easily forget a decade later. It forces us to continue to seek revenge. It forces hurt, hatred, war, and ultimately, even more deaths.
Yes, true 9/11 was a very traumatic experience for our our generation but, let’s be honest, it was most definitely not the only loathsome act committed in our time. The genocide in Darfur which has killed over 400,000 people does not seem to be remembered or discussed. Is it because it hasn’t occurred on our soil?
I remembered when I first heard about the 9/11 attack. Of course, I was saddened but, mostly, I was surprised to see that many of my neighbors were shocked that this happened in America which, to them, was equivalent to paradise. If the rest of the world can suffer from such repulsive acts, then why exactly do we think that we can exclude ourselves and our country from such acts? United States of America is the world’s leading superpower, yet unfortunately, it does not mean we are inaccessible to harm.
The family members of all those whose loved ones died in the World Trade Center might not have the closure they’re looking for, however, stating forever that their loved ones died due to someone’s hatred and ignorance is not helping with the whole “moving on” concept.
