assignment 5 a.

The anti-colonial or ‘Independence Period’ era of Latin America/Caribbean was said to be inspired by the Enlightenment. Future leaders of the Independence period studied and observed this European awakening. Then came the American Revolution and then the French Revolution which fueled the fire for independence. The Independence Period span from1807 to 1824, the Spanish American colonies went first after many years of Spain’s power decline. Spain was only able to hold on to Cuba and Puerto Rico (until 1898). The Portuguese finally lost power of Brazil in 1822 thanks to war in their own country. All that was left was a pesky prince. Haiti reached independence by a slave rebellion that put fear in the elites through out Latin America. Bolivar was in Venezuela and New Granada proclaiming himself, “El Libertador”, while Jose de San Martin was fixing things in Argentina and Chile. This region had shaken free from their oppressive rule, Spain and Portugal.

I have a love for religious iconic art. I’m not religious, I simply: love pretty things. If you combine that, with a fantastic story about a powerful woman who saves everyone…well then, you’ve got my attention. So, while looking over the list of research topic I went right to the Virgin. But then I remembered another female religious icon from our region of focus: Yemanja. She’s perfect. Like the Virgin, she a little bit catholic, and a little bit local.

Yemanja (Brazil) is originally Yemaja (Yoruba) but became prominent in many Afro-American religions. Oral traditions and many dialects transformed her name but never really changed her description. Africa, Brazil, Cuba, Haiti and the US all have a one or more names for her. She is the mother goddess, protector of pregnant women and children, the owner of all waters, protector of the sea and the fisherman.

In Vodou or Voodoo traditions, La Sirene(Haiti)/Yemalla(US), has 6 different personas, with that different colors are associated. Most intriguing being the “Okoto” this path is known as the underwater assassin. Her colors are indigo and blood red and her symbolism includes that of pirates. They seem to mirror the moods that a person might feel day to day. (I am hopeful tomorrow is not an underwater assassin day). Some of the others have a focus on the marketplace, beauty, health and old age.

My favorite part about Yemanja is when her patrons give thanks and worship. In most places and cases this involves floating resents and offerings out to sea (to her). Gifts range from delicious food to flower and perfume. Fireworks, which are my favorite thing in the world, are common. You could spend from Dec 8^th until Feb 2 traveling around to different festivals honoring the goddess of the sea. I hope to someday…

Now for the part that I always forget to do! My sources are:

Wikipedia.org

Infoplease.com

Encarta.msn.com

I believe my sources to be reliable. Wikipedia sited sources for the article, most came from texts…Encarta is a good tool and well known. I’m not too familiar with infoplease, but I liked what I read.

assingment 4 c.

Culture is what I want my daughter to be apart of and exposed to.

CUL-TURE:
The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought.
These patterns, traits, and products considered as the expression of a particular period, class, community, or population: Edwardian culture; Japanese culture; the culture of poverty.
These patterns, traits, and products considered with respect to a particular category, such as a field, subject, or mode of expression: religious culture in the Middle Ages; musical culture; oral culture.
The predominating attitudes and behavior that characterize the functioning of a group or organization.
Development of the intellect through training or education.
Enlightenment resulting from such training or education.
The growing of microorganisms, tissue cells, or other living matter in a specially prepared nutrient medium.
Such a growth or colony, as of bacteria.
Intellectual and artistic activity and the works produced by it.
Development of the intellect through training or education.
Enlightenment resulting from such training or education.
The growing of microorganisms, tissue cells, or other living matter in a specially prepared nutrient medium.
Such a growth or colony, as of bacteria.
A high degree of taste and refinement formed by aesthetic and intellectual training.
Special training and development: voice culture for singers and actors.
The cultivation of soil; tillage.
The breeding of animals or growing of plants, especially to produce improved stock.
Biology
The growing of microorganisms, tissue cells, or other living matter in a specially prepared nutrient medium.
b. Such a growth or colony, as of bacteria.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/culture
There are many ways in which you can refer to the term culture. As I began my search for knowledge I ran into the history of the word, culture comes from the Latin word cultura, meaning to cultivate. Which made me smile, that is what I was talking about. I want to cultivate the young mind of little McAllister, I can’t wait. As my sleuthing took me deeper into the word culture I noticed that like most words, it can have many meanings. Culture as a study or in a anthropological sense is a broad meaning of the term. There are subcultures, popular culture, high culture, low culture…and on and on. I think that the word has been over worked and like to original; to cultivate. But enough about me!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture
The topic fit perfectly into that definition, this is about cultivation. Or in the case of The topics covered in 4, the decultivation of the region that we are studying. This class is exposing us to new and different perspectives and cultures every week.
Catie Says: She viewed the video of Chichen Itza. That Mayans are considered one of the great civilizations of Mesoamerica. She was interested in the practice of human sacrifice the epees the god of rain. She Also pointed out that the Mayans were responsible for the colander and some of the first hieroglyphic writings. To Freire knowledge is power. Cultural strength is what should be shared a taught. The Mayans did all of these thing very well, until the Spanish arrived. The quick and sudden arrested development was devastating to the Mayan culture. The reason it applies to this region is because the Mayans were the beginning of an amazing history of an amazing people, although they were eliminated the culture resonates in the region today.
Isaac Says:At first I thought that I should pick a different classmate to review because Isaac and I chose that same topic: La Malinche! I’m glad that I kept with him, he was very thurough. Isaac explained the difference between conquest and colonialization wonderfully by saying the Spanish were, “there to exploit not to develop”. He also found more information on Marina la Malinche than I was able to. Possibly is Spanish???? He added to my knowledge of the topic with several interesting facts. The one that was impressive to me was that eventually she was given independent authority. WOW! I liked the way that Isaac tied in the past to present with talking about his biracial marriage. Because he is married to an American woman, he is considered to be: Malinchismo, the male form of malinchista, or traitor. Again, Freire would say that this was a great exercise in understanding. This not only relates to the region that we are studying but in Isaacs case, and millions of others this relates to us now. That a word, stemming from a person hundreds of years ago sets a feeling/climate that directly affects us today. Amazing.

please excuse my strange color/layout decisions. i had a hard time with a the link feature!

assignment 4 b.

Esta no fue una historia de amor
SINOPSIS:
La historia de Cortés y La Malinche no es una historia de amor, es
una historia de dominio. La vida de la Malinche se redujo a su
lengua, gracias a ella fue importante, no era ni persona ni mujer, era
una lengua. Esta es una historia donde las lenguas, las culturas
y las razas

www.fllanos.com/pinchemalinche/videos.html

I came across this fantastic piece of pop art while searching for information on Marina la Malinche. I thought that I would include the text because it is a good example of another perspective. It shows the way that a Latina views her. I do not speak Spanish well, but what I gather is this: The history of Cortes and Malinche is not a history of love, but a history of domination. Malinche’s life was reduced to a tongue, she was thankful for her importance, but she wasn’t a person, she was just a tongue. She is the history of the language, the culture, the race

Observation: I like the way the artist has used found images to make her own statement; she uses older and popular images of both Cortes and La Malinche. Puts them is a blender (a nice one I might add) adds some vegetables and makes a symbolic salsa, or Mestizos.

Interpretation: The artist is trying to summarize and express her feelings about the relationship of Cortes and La Malinche. While trying to make the greater statement of how it is not and romantic or idyllic start, but it is her culture all the same. The choice of bold colors expresses the strength and pride that she feels and the blender represents the machine that was the Spanish invasion.

Judgment: I liked that I had recognized pieces of the collage from other artwork I had seen during my search. I like that it is familiar, I was drawn to it because it seemed like something that I would hang in my house.

Questioning: I know that the artist is a woman, but would love to know what she was like. I like what she wrote in her synopsis, she seems sure of herself. I would have liked to have been able to access the mini video to see what else she had done. What prompted her to do this? Was it a school assignment?

assignment 4 a.

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue…until he got to Guanahani…then he:

Conquest: the act or state of conquering, or the state of being conquered; vanquishment. Anything acquired by conquering, as a nation, a territory, or spoils.

Colonial: of, relating to, possessing, or inhabiting a colony or colonies.

The Conquest/Colonial Era refers to the enormous amount of time from 1492-1810. Starting with the ever popular Columbus, lasting for nearly three hundred years, and then finally coming to an end with the Spanish-American War.

As I watched the videos that were assigned I was drawn to the two about Marina la Malinche. I was drawn to the iconic female figure, but also the drama that fills the story and the way that it affects us today.

3 interesting facts:

Marina la Melinche was on of 20 slaves given to Cortes by a Mayan King. She was fluent in Nahuatl and Mayan and began translating for Cortes’ army. She soon learned to speak Spanish and became the chief translator. Many think that if she was not involved that there would have been no communication and many more deaths.

There are opposing views of Marina. Some refer to her as if she were the Virgin Mary. She is sited as one of the first to birth a mixed race child, thus, the beginning of the Mexican race. Others think of her as a traitor and blame her for the fall of the Aztec empire. Many people feel that it was her character that molded the male perception of the female in Latin American culture.

A bit of a side note…I am a chef and have worked in kitchens for almost ten years now. Several years back, in the beginning if you will: I work in a very busy restaurant with a large line I was one of two non-Latin American cooks and the only female. It was super fun and for the most part we all got along very well. But if I upset any of the guys than I was La Chingada for the rest of the night! They would even sing a little song, “Chinga, Chinga…” So when I was reading about Marina la Melinche I was surprised to find out that La Chingada meant traitor, I always thought it meant fucker (feminine). How’s that for an interesting fact?

http://dictionary.reference.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQU4CXqrbDs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h-6cHlu5fk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Malinche