My provocations

 TAJ CITY

One of my imaginary cities is called TAJ city located in my false country of Tajland. It has 10 million people and is a major financial hub for the region.

 Taj City was originally a small village but was taken over by the British in 1890 to use as a port. The Brits expanded the city exponentially and built a church in the downtown area. It remained under British rule until locals decided to fight for independence.

The Brits expanded the city exponentially and built a church in the downtown area. It remained under British rule until locals decided to fight for independence.

 Battles against the British took place all across the country, but Taj City was the epicenter. When Tajland was granted independence in 1959, the new leader chose Taj City to be the capital. The locals tore down all remnants of British rule, including the church. But Tajland was not free from conflict. 

Only 7 years after independence, Tajland erupted into a civil war that lasted from 1966 to 1979. There were two sides; the side that was fighting for democracy, and the people fighting for a dictator who supported the Soviet Union. With a little bit of help from the Western world, democracy prevailed, and Tajland began transforming from a 3rd world country to an upper-middle-income economy. 

Thus, Taj City thrived. Business increased, the government made tax-free zones for businesses, they signed free trade agreements with many countries and the government lifted millions out of poverty by making these changes. That meant more and more people were moving into cities for business opportunities.

Today, Taj City is the mecca for all things modern and trendy, with many upscale shopping centers, business districts, and more. The infrastructure has improved a lot since the turn of the century, with the government embracing Western policies while cherishing local culture and combining it to create a unique, diverse nation. 

HISTORY OF ART

Hi. Today I will share the history of drawing. Cavemen began drawing in ancient times using colored rocks to make pictures depicting daily life. Progressing through history people began to paint and sculpt and do all kinds of artsy things.

 And then it exploded. Not literally. *Cue jingle!* The Renaissance!!! People began to paint, sculpt, and do all kinds of artsy things *Cue Jingle* EXCEPT IT’S BETTER and Everyone’s doing it. Michelangelo. Leonardo Davinci. The guy who made the Mona Lisa and the other famous paintings. Um… gee who else… I dunno. I’m not a Renaissance expert ok? 

Then people kinda got bored of drawing and started to be addicted to factories, machines, and trains. But a few people, y’know, kept drawing and stuff. *Cue jingle* PABLO PICASSO!! AND A FEW OTHER GUYS THAT I DON’T KNOW! 

Then people invented many new artsy things. Like cameras. Why spend 3 hours painting somebody with paint when you can just do it with a camera?! And people began to develop better drawing technologies that I don’t have time to explain anyways they made them draw better which made them draw more which made them draw better and *DING!* Oh, somebody just invented computers that you can use to draw. And people drew and drew and drew better and better and better. 

Nowadays you don’t even need skills to create a masterpiece. Just draw a bunch of scribbles, color them, and contact your local artsy dude who just happens to be locally famous and has an Instagram account with more than 351 followers. And you’ll be the next Picasso! BOoM! All famous artists nowadays live in California and they drew the same scribbles just to be famous. Anyways hope you like this provocation byeeee.

And that’s the history of Art. 

By Nathaniel Sabet. ©2021 All rights reserved. Artist’s names used without permission.

MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER'S ADVERTISEMENTS

Sooooooooooooooooo, basically my late great-grandpa on my mom’s side, whose name was Albert, his job was drawing advertisements. Yes, you heard me right. He drew actual advertisements. I will attach some pictures. Most were digital, the others were designed by a lady hired by my grandpa for a start-up he had called Lancaster Publishing Group. (By the way, basically, my whole family from my mom’s side is from Lancaster PA. And also my grandpa is an expert at creating companies.)  

Yes, you also heard that right, (I know you’re not legally deaf) Anyways, I thought this was really cool because imagine drawing THE PICTURES FOR A BOOK THAT YOUR DAUGHTER IN LAW (my grandma) WROTE? LIKE HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!? AND ADVERTISEMENTS FOR THE EPHRATA ASSOCIATION OF MEDICINE?!?!?! 

When I first heard this news, I was discombobulated and intrigued at the same time. So that’s cool. It also inspired me TO BRAG ABOUT IT! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! No, I’m kidding. But it’s still not every day when you find out your great-grandfather was an advertising wizard. So yeah. BYEEEEEEEE! 

Written By Nathaniel Sabet. Images by Albert Kirk. © Text Copyright 2021 Nathaniel Sabet. All rights reserved. © Illustrations Copyright 1940-1970 Albert Kirk. All rights reserved.