This weeks lesson is on the Surreal movement which before now, I never really understood and was quite confused about. The use of symbolism and portraying feelings via art has always been something that I have had a had time grasping, but whats funny is that my girlfriend is somewhat of a Frida expressionist and has a hard time expressing her self with words and would rather communicate through the written word or drawn images.
Ive always admired Fridas work, for its true depiction of her inner feelings, the resiliance that she possesed and her Bravaness as a latin woman. Despite her medical condition, she never gave in and said "I cant take it no more" and never gave up her passion for life and her art.
Also its quite interesting on how once again, Mexico was a main player in a form of art expression, as in the Mirual Movement, this time the Surreal movement was fueled by Mexicos unrestricted use of its imagination not being reserved by European opinions of what was considered proper art.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Modernism and the Mural Movement - Blog #6
This weeks lesson is on the Mural Movement and Modernism in Latin America and how it was expressed thru art.
This lesson was quite interesting to due to a couple of enlightening historical reasons.
Ist was the information on the Mexican Revolution and the evolution of the countries political progress. I was unaware of the PRIs long term reign as the counties main political power, and the PAN finally winning. I remember my father mentioning some details about Fox, the current president, but never realized how significant it was. Also the part of Gen. Diaz eventualy being forced of out his dictator thrown and the country attempting to stabilize itself. When I really thing about it, its pretty much similar it to US in it move for independance and how greatly significant and solid our Constition is, that it was created and still to this day it is the foundation of our country.
2nd is the information on the Mural Movement originating in Latin America and the artisically varying styles of "Los Tres Grandes," Rivera, Orozco, and Sigueiros.
This lesson was quite interesting to due to a couple of enlightening historical reasons.
Ist was the information on the Mexican Revolution and the evolution of the countries political progress. I was unaware of the PRIs long term reign as the counties main political power, and the PAN finally winning. I remember my father mentioning some details about Fox, the current president, but never realized how significant it was. Also the part of Gen. Diaz eventualy being forced of out his dictator thrown and the country attempting to stabilize itself. When I really thing about it, its pretty much similar it to US in it move for independance and how greatly significant and solid our Constition is, that it was created and still to this day it is the foundation of our country.
2nd is the information on the Mural Movement originating in Latin America and the artisically varying styles of "Los Tres Grandes," Rivera, Orozco, and Sigueiros.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Christianity in Colonial Mexico - Blog #5
This weeks lesson is on Christianity in Colonial Mexico.
Two important events, Church Councils and Reforms and the Holy Inquisition heavily manipulated the Indians while living under the Spanish Inquistion. The Council of Trent of 1561 mandated that the Spanish and Indians were to be segregated and live seperate lives as Indians were declared inhuman, and lacking moral strength and social virtue. With the Holy Inquisition, all of the initial parishes owned by religious groups were now under the control of the secular clergy, creating an extemely powerful economic entity which now had no disregard for the conversion of the Indians, but as using them as profit bearing, free labor machines. The art and architecture as well at this time made a dramtic change from the Baroque style "of the people" to a more "refined" style to mimic that from Europe and Spain. The churches were being built in a more traditional Christian manner, straying away from the Indian, Posa, and Convento architecture styles of worshipping.
From my point of view on this weeks lesson, is all a matter of what happens to be in style or in demand at the time, regards to the political, economical and social values being exercised at the time by the dominant governing bodies. Just as in our times today with the economic crisis, certain issues that were OK to discuss and bring out in the open are sensitive and taboo now. Al so I say that it had to do with the maturization of New Spain and that it was time for it to catch up to the rest of the Spanish kindgdom, but unfortunatley it was all at the expense of the Indigneous INdians.
Two important events, Church Councils and Reforms and the Holy Inquisition heavily manipulated the Indians while living under the Spanish Inquistion. The Council of Trent of 1561 mandated that the Spanish and Indians were to be segregated and live seperate lives as Indians were declared inhuman, and lacking moral strength and social virtue. With the Holy Inquisition, all of the initial parishes owned by religious groups were now under the control of the secular clergy, creating an extemely powerful economic entity which now had no disregard for the conversion of the Indians, but as using them as profit bearing, free labor machines. The art and architecture as well at this time made a dramtic change from the Baroque style "of the people" to a more "refined" style to mimic that from Europe and Spain. The churches were being built in a more traditional Christian manner, straying away from the Indian, Posa, and Convento architecture styles of worshipping.
From my point of view on this weeks lesson, is all a matter of what happens to be in style or in demand at the time, regards to the political, economical and social values being exercised at the time by the dominant governing bodies. Just as in our times today with the economic crisis, certain issues that were OK to discuss and bring out in the open are sensitive and taboo now. Al so I say that it had to do with the maturization of New Spain and that it was time for it to catch up to the rest of the Spanish kindgdom, but unfortunatley it was all at the expense of the Indigneous INdians.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Indigeneous Response - Part II
Create a blog for this week that relates something you read about or watched from this week to your everyday world. This is blog #4, please label it blog #4.
The section that I choose to comment on from this weeks assignment is Gloria Anzaldua's work and her reflections of growing up in a biethnical world. Reading these reflections from Gloria really hit home and stirred up some mixed emotions within me.
As I am of mixed ethnicity, but predominately raised in the Mexican culture due to my father's family vast numbers and my mother being an only child, I have experienced similar language transitions while interacting within separate collections of people. One day I will be at a immediate family gathering and use about 2-3 unique versions of Spanish to communicate among the elders (from Mexico), cousins and friends (1st Gen. born in US) and the younger generation (2nd Gen in US)
Also even though I have never experience "straight out right ignorant" racist remarks directed towards my decision to communicate in Spanish outside of the family walls, quite few of my cousins have expressed being involved and "being corrected" by school admins, councilers, and those holding tax paying jobs that are supposibly their to help and guide our youth, but instead are oppressing and imposing their descriminating ideology and raciest views on innocent, malleable, young minds.
Well let me quit now before I get up and start a riot, but as others outside of the multi-ethnical world would assume that those of us that from families who's parents are from other countries and express very stong ties to their culture, its not easy having to grow up having two identies to follow and being expected to be great in each of them when it comes to language, traditional values, and cultural norms.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Blog #3 = Test1/Assignment2 - The Indigeneous Response
Create a blog for this week that relates something you read about or watched from this week to your everyday world. This is blog #3, please label it blog #3.
This week's assignment is on the Indigneous response to the invasion and colonization by the Spanish in MesoAmerica. This wqeek's lesson was particularly interesting due to the more detailed, honest and historic information that is finally brought to light to the general public. The previous lack of the truth on how the native indians were treated is another clear example of the dominant society restricting damaging, incriminating evidence to the inquiring minds on the degrating, sadistic means used to overpower and near completion of genocidal goals on the native indians of the Americas.
The response from the Indigenous Americans towards the Spanish colonization was interesting as it varied by tribe. Some tribes chose to challenge the Spanish head on in battle, defending their territory and way of life, relying on the mystical powers of their gods which suprisingly to the Indigneous Americans, never manifested in their defense. Other tribes chose to welcome the superior, more technically advanced Spanish threat in order to survive the onslaught that was fueled by the Spaniards lust for gold and power.
Now on a more personal note that I have learned in the past few years is somewhat related to the the material in this assignment, that my grandparents on my fathers side are living examples of the mixing of Spanish and Indigneous blood in marriage. My grandfather is decendent from the Spanish blood line from Mexico; fair skinned, taller than average, and light colored eyes. My grandmother is decendent of the Indigneous American blood line from Mexico; darker skin, strong facial bone structure, and shorter in height. Also I believe that she still remember the native tongue that she spoke when she was young, but dont remember exactly the name of it and from which tribe it related to.
Joel Martinez
This week's assignment is on the Indigneous response to the invasion and colonization by the Spanish in MesoAmerica. This wqeek's lesson was particularly interesting due to the more detailed, honest and historic information that is finally brought to light to the general public. The previous lack of the truth on how the native indians were treated is another clear example of the dominant society restricting damaging, incriminating evidence to the inquiring minds on the degrating, sadistic means used to overpower and near completion of genocidal goals on the native indians of the Americas.
The response from the Indigenous Americans towards the Spanish colonization was interesting as it varied by tribe. Some tribes chose to challenge the Spanish head on in battle, defending their territory and way of life, relying on the mystical powers of their gods which suprisingly to the Indigneous Americans, never manifested in their defense. Other tribes chose to welcome the superior, more technically advanced Spanish threat in order to survive the onslaught that was fueled by the Spaniards lust for gold and power.
Now on a more personal note that I have learned in the past few years is somewhat related to the the material in this assignment, that my grandparents on my fathers side are living examples of the mixing of Spanish and Indigneous blood in marriage. My grandfather is decendent from the Spanish blood line from Mexico; fair skinned, taller than average, and light colored eyes. My grandmother is decendent of the Indigneous American blood line from Mexico; darker skin, strong facial bone structure, and shorter in height. Also I believe that she still remember the native tongue that she spoke when she was young, but dont remember exactly the name of it and from which tribe it related to.
Joel Martinez
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Quiz 1/ Assignment 1 -Preconquest blog
Create a blog for this week that relates something you read about or watched from this week to your everyday world:
Well one very real section of the Preconquest assignments that I read over and hit home was the Spanish conquering the Aztecs by joing forces with advantageous tribes, gaining trust thru deceit, and mainly wiping out all that opposed them or that they saw fit to let live.
A few years back, I was working at Efficient Networks Inc, and all was just peachy until we saw a few signs that cutbacks were occurring in our depatment and office in general. Later a big-wig from our headquarters from Dallas, TX comes stolling into out office and has an urgent all-hands meeting that all are to attend. The outcome of this meetings is to reassure all that some measures are being taken to cut costs where ever possible, but that no ones jobs are at risk and that everything is going to go on as usual.
Well witin a couple months, we notice quite frequent visits from those from headquarters and bringing along with them associates from out of the country, branded with Seimens on their persons.
Couple of months later, a few persons are laid off, a group here and their are reorganized and placed under new management. Slowing thining out the herd, the weak ones and those with numberous numbers doing the same function are the easiest targets.
Nearly a year goes by and were down to a skeleton crew, hanging on to whatever we hold dear the most, and the big news is finally reveiled. 'Seimens is buying out the company and those left have 3 months on the books.'
How I felt betrayed, lied to contiously and was disgusted from their deceitful ways!
But as I read and have learned myself, life continues on, maybe not under the pasts tribes name or under the same exact beliefs, but they are all similar in many ways and tend to follow similar goals and cultures.
Joel Martinez
Well one very real section of the Preconquest assignments that I read over and hit home was the Spanish conquering the Aztecs by joing forces with advantageous tribes, gaining trust thru deceit, and mainly wiping out all that opposed them or that they saw fit to let live.
A few years back, I was working at Efficient Networks Inc, and all was just peachy until we saw a few signs that cutbacks were occurring in our depatment and office in general. Later a big-wig from our headquarters from Dallas, TX comes stolling into out office and has an urgent all-hands meeting that all are to attend. The outcome of this meetings is to reassure all that some measures are being taken to cut costs where ever possible, but that no ones jobs are at risk and that everything is going to go on as usual.
Well witin a couple months, we notice quite frequent visits from those from headquarters and bringing along with them associates from out of the country, branded with Seimens on their persons.
Couple of months later, a few persons are laid off, a group here and their are reorganized and placed under new management. Slowing thining out the herd, the weak ones and those with numberous numbers doing the same function are the easiest targets.
Nearly a year goes by and were down to a skeleton crew, hanging on to whatever we hold dear the most, and the big news is finally reveiled. 'Seimens is buying out the company and those left have 3 months on the books.'
How I felt betrayed, lied to contiously and was disgusted from their deceitful ways!
But as I read and have learned myself, life continues on, maybe not under the pasts tribes name or under the same exact beliefs, but they are all similar in many ways and tend to follow similar goals and cultures.
Joel Martinez
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