Matthew McDonald's post emphasizes how important literacy was to Freire. If people could not read, they were not legally able to vote. Since many poor people could not afford to go to school, they did not know how to read or write. This kept many people, especially the poorest people, from having any power in government because they could not vote. Without the vote of the poorest and least educated, nothing came about to help them and they continued to struggle and have no power. Freire worked in other countries, where he was able to see that oppression and problems with education are all over the world, which influenced him and helped him do more.
Chris Formato's post is about Freire's theories and banking. Freire was against the idea of "banking" in education, which is the concept that students are like bank accounts that teachers are supposed to deposit knowledge into. The idea of banking means that a student is just given information and filled with it, but is not expected to do anything else. Freire believed that students need to take part in their education by having dialogue with their teachers and having respect for one another so that they could have conversations and create ideas from the learning. There are eight theories for Freire's approach to education, which are discussed in his book Pedagogy of the Oppressed. They are the theories of value, knowledge, human nature, learning, transmission, society, opportunity, and consensus.
Freire's ideas apply to this class because the people who he was most interested in helping, the very poor people with little access to education, are numerous in Latin America and the Caribbean. His theories could be very beneficial for both areas if they were implemented for the people. There is quite a bit of corruption and oppression in Latin America and the Caribbean because many people cannot vote because of their lack of education and understanding. If all the illiterate and uneducated people were educated, like Freire did, Latin America and the Caribbean would be much better and fairer places.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Assignment 5c
MoLAA is the Museum of Latin American Art that displays the work of contemporary Latin American artists from World War 2 to the present. What I have learned this semester enhances my understanding of the artwork at MoLAA because I have a much greater understanding of Latin American culture, history, and art. Latin American art is strongly influenced by its history from pre-colombian indigenous civilization, to colonialism, to independence. Now that I know more about what has happened in Latin America and how the countries and cultures have developed, I can better understand what the art is about. There is such a strong presence of history and culture in the art that much of the meaning and significance of the art is lost without a knowledge of Latin America.
(http://artscenecal.com/ArticlesFile/Archive/Articles2004/Articles0904/CR0904.html)
This painting is called Cancion al Silencio, or Song to Silence, and was created by Cesar Menendez in 1990. Cesar Menendez is a Salvadorian artist who was born in 1954. His work is greatly influenced by his homeland and childhood in Sonsonate, El Salvador. I found his work while searching the MoLAA website, and thought the name of his most recent exhibit at the museum, "Hunter of Fantasies/o Cazador de Faantasiás," was interesting. I googled him to find out more about him and see his work, which turns out to be just as interesting as the exhibit name.
I see a lot of struggle and passion in the painting. It is dark, but there are also the bright orange, red, blue, and green areas that show passion and energy. The painting shows a woman holding the body of a lifeless woman, and she appears to be caring for the woman. I don't know if the lifeless woman is a part of the dressed woman, or if she is not even real. There is also a large dog and a bird cage that might have dead birds on the bottom of it. The art is a painting of oil on canvas, and Menendez used multiple layers of paint that he added and took off to create luring three-dimension. Most of the painting is filled with straight lines and 90 degree angles to create a tense atmosphere. The women, dog, and birdcage are the only curves lines in the painting, and they stand out because of their different shapes. There are so many parts of the painting, and the contrast between dark, bright, and some pastel fills the painting with energy and emotion.
I think that the painting is about life struggles. There are many emotions that I see in the painting, and I think that they are all coming together to show what people go through in life. The women represent life and death, because one of the women is alive, and the other is dead. Also, I think they represent fertility and motherhood, because the naked woman is curvey and her stomach protrudes a little bit, and the living woman is gently caring for her, like a mother. The dog is mysterious and aggressive, like a dangerous part of life. The bird cage represents the structure of life and how it can trap people and harm them, as it did the birds by killing them. The painting contains light and dark, like happiness and sadness, and many of the other most common emotions and struggles people face.
I chose this work of art because I saw Latin American history reflected in it. Growing up in El Salvador, Menendez knows about the struggles and oppresion of indigenous people and poor people. He has learned about conquest, colonialism, and independence since he was a child. With so much intense history and recent past surrounding him as he grew up, it makes sense that his art is so complex and emotional. I think that the painting shows the conflict and struggles that El Salvador has faced, and the new light that came from independence. In the past, indigenous people of El Salvador were killed, opressed, and had their cultures taken from them. The tense, dark, and aggressive parts of the painting seem to symbolize that part of history. After becoming independent, Salvadorians were better cared for by the government. The violence, passion, and dreams that have affected El Salvador for so long seem to be shown in Cancion al Silencio.
There is so much going on in the painting that it is hard to truly understand what is going on. The atmosphere of the painting appears very quiet, and it does not seem that the dog or women are making any noise at all. The silence part of the title probably comes from how quiet the room is, but I would like to know what it is called the song of silence. I don't know what the song is, and I think that understanding that would help me understand the painting better.
(http://artscenecal.com/ArticlesFile/Archive/Articles2004/Articles0904/CR0904.html)
This painting is called Cancion al Silencio, or Song to Silence, and was created by Cesar Menendez in 1990. Cesar Menendez is a Salvadorian artist who was born in 1954. His work is greatly influenced by his homeland and childhood in Sonsonate, El Salvador. I found his work while searching the MoLAA website, and thought the name of his most recent exhibit at the museum, "Hunter of Fantasies/o Cazador de Faantasiás," was interesting. I googled him to find out more about him and see his work, which turns out to be just as interesting as the exhibit name.
I see a lot of struggle and passion in the painting. It is dark, but there are also the bright orange, red, blue, and green areas that show passion and energy. The painting shows a woman holding the body of a lifeless woman, and she appears to be caring for the woman. I don't know if the lifeless woman is a part of the dressed woman, or if she is not even real. There is also a large dog and a bird cage that might have dead birds on the bottom of it. The art is a painting of oil on canvas, and Menendez used multiple layers of paint that he added and took off to create luring three-dimension. Most of the painting is filled with straight lines and 90 degree angles to create a tense atmosphere. The women, dog, and birdcage are the only curves lines in the painting, and they stand out because of their different shapes. There are so many parts of the painting, and the contrast between dark, bright, and some pastel fills the painting with energy and emotion.
I think that the painting is about life struggles. There are many emotions that I see in the painting, and I think that they are all coming together to show what people go through in life. The women represent life and death, because one of the women is alive, and the other is dead. Also, I think they represent fertility and motherhood, because the naked woman is curvey and her stomach protrudes a little bit, and the living woman is gently caring for her, like a mother. The dog is mysterious and aggressive, like a dangerous part of life. The bird cage represents the structure of life and how it can trap people and harm them, as it did the birds by killing them. The painting contains light and dark, like happiness and sadness, and many of the other most common emotions and struggles people face.
I chose this work of art because I saw Latin American history reflected in it. Growing up in El Salvador, Menendez knows about the struggles and oppresion of indigenous people and poor people. He has learned about conquest, colonialism, and independence since he was a child. With so much intense history and recent past surrounding him as he grew up, it makes sense that his art is so complex and emotional. I think that the painting shows the conflict and struggles that El Salvador has faced, and the new light that came from independence. In the past, indigenous people of El Salvador were killed, opressed, and had their cultures taken from them. The tense, dark, and aggressive parts of the painting seem to symbolize that part of history. After becoming independent, Salvadorians were better cared for by the government. The violence, passion, and dreams that have affected El Salvador for so long seem to be shown in Cancion al Silencio.
There is so much going on in the painting that it is hard to truly understand what is going on. The atmosphere of the painting appears very quiet, and it does not seem that the dog or women are making any noise at all. The silence part of the title probably comes from how quiet the room is, but I would like to know what it is called the song of silence. I don't know what the song is, and I think that understanding that would help me understand the painting better.
Assignment 5b
La Nube- (http://redescolar.ilce.edu.mx/redescolar/publicaciones/publi_quepaso/gerardo_murillo.htm)
La Nube, which means the cloud in English, was painted by Doctor Atl in 1934. Doctor Atl, whose real name was Gerardo Murillo, was a painter in Mexico for most of his life. He lived in Europe for a while, but lived in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution and when the new constitution was created. He worked on his art as well as politics during the Revolution, and he impacted Mexico in many ways.
La Nube shows the Mexican landscape with clouds, hills, fields, a lake, and some villages. Everything is green, luscious, beautiful, and calm. It looks like an area that anyone would want to be in, because they could relax and be happy. Doctor Atl used bright and strong colors, but not necessarily the natural color. The sky is as dark blue as the night in some places, and in others it is light blue with touches of pink and purple. The hills in the distance are also blue and purple. His use of color is Expressionist because the colors did not have to be natural, and he used colors more to express emotion and symbolism. He distorted lines and shapes to create a more dramatic and bold landscape. I also read that he used a waxy pigment in his paintings that created a different texture, but I could not find if he used it with this painting. With the color, lines, and shapes all combined, he created landscapes that encouraged Mexican nationalism.
The painting is about Mexico's greatness, so that people could be proud to be Mexican. After Mexico received its independence, art was still mostly all in European style. Afterwards, Mexican artists began creating their own styles and subjects. Mexico developed its own art styles that focused on strength, Mexican subjects, and Mexican values. Doctor Atl was one of the first Mexican artists to really encourage artists to be proud of the their country in their art. Known as artistic nationalism, it is an art form that pays attention to the average citizen and lifestyle. Commonly that is done by showing the working class, in Mexico especially agricultural laborers, poverty, and homelife. Doctor Atl supported the artistic nationalism movement and used it in his own work. In La Nube, he showed how beautiful Mexico is and life in agricultural villages.
I chose this work because it is very beautiful, and the style is very unique. I was attracted to all the colors and flowing lines that create the beautiful landscape. I think that this work shows what Mexico was like at the time, because it was independent and changing. People were earning more rights from the Constitution of 1917, which did not have its laws really enforced until the 1930's. I think of the pride that people must have felt for their country which was making so many improvements. Life was looking up for many people, and artists like Doctor Atl could look at Mexico and see all the beauty that it had available for their art. I feel like it is showing the peace of mind that Doctor Atl felt because of the improvements, and I see a place that I would love to live in the painting. Doctor Atl shows the peaceful and beautiful Mexico that deserves the pride of those who live in it.
The painting is called "the Cloud," and there is one huge, magnificent cloud in the sky. I'm assuming that the name comes from the main cloud. The cloud seems to be moving a lot and is a large part of the painting. Knowing that Doctor Atl used a lot of symbolism in his paintings, and that he was a very political person with strong opinions, I think that the cloud is supposed to represent or mean something, but I have no idea what.
Assignment 5a
After Columbus arrived in the Americas in 1492, very few indigenous groups had independence, as they were controlled by another country as colonies. In Latin America, colonialism lasted until about 1810. Colonialism started out with the Spanish, but went on to include the French, British, and more. Finally from about 1810 to 1830, Latin American countries became semi-independent, mostly through war. They were not really independent, although technically they were, because their economies were still controlled by outside forces that exported the country's resources and then imported finished goods back into the country. This stage is called neocolonialism, because the countries still depended on the finished goods being imported, could not provide many jobs, and their policies were often shaped around the import and export of another county. While Latin American countries are more independent than before, they are still not as independent and strong as other countries because of the colonialism and neocolonialism from before.
The most recent Mexican constitution was created in 1917 during the Mexican Revolution. The Mexican Revolution started in 1910 and lasted until at least 1920. The Revolution was against Porfirio Diaz, but also about the conflicting ideas about what kind of government Mexico should have and how the people should be treated. There were many changes going on in Mexico during the time the constitution was written, and those changes and the ideas of the Revolution were included in the new Constitution.
The Constitution of 1917 gave more rights to the people of Mexico than the previous constitution from 1857. An example is that it limited the workday to only 8 hours a day and included at least one required day off a week. Also, workers were given the right to form unions and strike. This was very different than what most people had been used to before. The amount of land a person could own was limited, so peasants had a better chance of owning some land, which was before owned almost entirely by a small number of wealthy people. Also, primary education became a requirement, and it had to be free of charge and religion. While many of the new laws were not, and often still are not, always followed, they made progress and provided new opportunities. The constitution gave more rights to citizens, protected them more, and made life better for Mexicans.
February 5th of every year is El Dia de la Constitucion, or Constitution Day. It is a public holiday in Mexico the recognizes the Constitution. There are often festivals and celebrations throughout Mexico. Most workers get the day off because it is a national holiday, like Memorial Day in the United States. It is important because the Constitution of 1917 was formally adopted on February 5th, and was the first time that Mexicans had many rights and gave Mexico greater freedom from outside powers. It is a day of celebrating what the new constitution brought to Mexico, and a time to recognize the progress that was made.
The main source I used was "The Constitution of 1917," which is on a government run website that teaches kids about Mexico (http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/kids/history/html/rev/constitu.html). It is on a credible site that has won many awards, is through the government, and includes sources. I also used Wikipedia for information on Dia de la Constitucion, because there isn't much credible information about it that I could find (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Mexico). Wikipedia is not credible, but it's the best I could find, and it sounds right. I used the Oxford Language Dictionary Online to give me some basic information on the holiday (http://www.oxfordlanguagedictionaries.com/Public/PublicResources.html?direction=b-es-en&sp=S/oldo/resources/es/calendar.html). That is credible because it has a good reputation, provides the names of the project team, and is associated with Oxford University, which also has a good reputation.
The most recent Mexican constitution was created in 1917 during the Mexican Revolution. The Mexican Revolution started in 1910 and lasted until at least 1920. The Revolution was against Porfirio Diaz, but also about the conflicting ideas about what kind of government Mexico should have and how the people should be treated. There were many changes going on in Mexico during the time the constitution was written, and those changes and the ideas of the Revolution were included in the new Constitution.
The Constitution of 1917 gave more rights to the people of Mexico than the previous constitution from 1857. An example is that it limited the workday to only 8 hours a day and included at least one required day off a week. Also, workers were given the right to form unions and strike. This was very different than what most people had been used to before. The amount of land a person could own was limited, so peasants had a better chance of owning some land, which was before owned almost entirely by a small number of wealthy people. Also, primary education became a requirement, and it had to be free of charge and religion. While many of the new laws were not, and often still are not, always followed, they made progress and provided new opportunities. The constitution gave more rights to citizens, protected them more, and made life better for Mexicans.
February 5th of every year is El Dia de la Constitucion, or Constitution Day. It is a public holiday in Mexico the recognizes the Constitution. There are often festivals and celebrations throughout Mexico. Most workers get the day off because it is a national holiday, like Memorial Day in the United States. It is important because the Constitution of 1917 was formally adopted on February 5th, and was the first time that Mexicans had many rights and gave Mexico greater freedom from outside powers. It is a day of celebrating what the new constitution brought to Mexico, and a time to recognize the progress that was made.
The main source I used was "The Constitution of 1917," which is on a government run website that teaches kids about Mexico (http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/kids/history/html/rev/constitu.html). It is on a credible site that has won many awards, is through the government, and includes sources. I also used Wikipedia for information on Dia de la Constitucion, because there isn't much credible information about it that I could find (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Mexico). Wikipedia is not credible, but it's the best I could find, and it sounds right. I used the Oxford Language Dictionary Online to give me some basic information on the holiday (http://www.oxfordlanguagedictionaries.com/Public/PublicResources.html?direction=b-es-en&sp=S/oldo/resources/es/calendar.html). That is credible because it has a good reputation, provides the names of the project team, and is associated with Oxford University, which also has a good reputation.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Assignment 4b- Mision San Francisco de Asis altar
(http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2004/01/2/MNGC74KEA71.DTL&o=1)
This is the reredos, or decorative altar, of Mission San Francisco de Asis, or Mission Dolores, in San Francisco. It is a spectacular reredos that contains history, beauty, and the religion of the mission. It was placed in the mission just a few years after the permanent building was finished and has been there ever since to be appreciated by church goers.
The painted wooden reredos has carved statues of the Archangel Michael and the Blessed Virgin with her parents on either side. Jesus Christ is in the center, on the crucifix, surrounded by the the statues. The reredos has columns, gold accents, and geometric shapes. It is detailed and intricate, but it all works well together. It is in Baroque style, which was extremely popular with the Catholic church from the late 16th century to the late 18th century. Baroque started in Europe and spread to Latin America, where it was especially embraced by Latin American Catholic churches. Baroque work was made to impress people, bring out their religious feelings with intense emotions, and show power. The Catholic church used it to show people the glorious power in the Catholic faith. The mission altar is extremely Baroque in its design and the strong emotions it encourages.
The reredos is about the elegant greatness of Catholicism. It is calm and strong, beautiful and powerful--all of the things that I think the church wanted the Native Americans and church visitors to see in their faith. The bodies of the statues are in motion, appearing intense, realistic, and strong. The huge size and impressive detail show strength, power, and glory to anyone who stands before it--whether they are Catholic or not.
I saw this reredos on my honeymoon and was amazed by its grandeur. While researching the missions for assignment 4a, I saw it online and remembered how impressed I had been. It is an intense piece of art to see in real life. Just by looking at it you can tell it is old and authentic. When I saw it, I did not know it was in Baroque style, or what Baroque style is. I have since learned about it, and it is amazing because all the emotions that the style tries to bring out were totally brought out in both me and my husband when we saw it (and neither of us are Catholic). The reredos is huge, detailed, and rich in emotion. It drew me in and made me feel like I was in the presence of something amazing, which is the goal of Baroque style.
The reredos was made in San Blas, Mexico and sent to the mission in 1796 by ship. It arrived in pieces and was extremely impressive when assembled. There are also two side altars, like little reredos, which were sent from Mexico in 1810. I would like to know why they were sent from Mexico instead of being made in California. Was the skill so much better in Mexico that it was worth it? Was San Blas a special place to get reredos? How were they shipped so they could arrive safely? Also, how much work (time, money, skill, planning) did it take to make the reredo? I would like to know all this information, but it seems as if the only information really available is about the reredos already being at the mission.
Assignment 4a
Conquest means that one group of people takes control of another group of people and takes all their power away from them. While before they were in charge of their own governments and lives, in a conquest, the invading people take power and control the people they invaded. Colonialism is when one country controls another group of people, who are not actually a part of the invaders country. The land and people are still a separate land and people, but they are controlled (or owned) by the invaders. After a conquest, when the people are under the control of the invaders, they are a colony of the invaders. There were many conquest and a lot of colonialism in Latin America and the Caribbean.
There are 21 California missions, with the first one established in 1769 by Father Junipero Serra in San Diego. The last mission, San Francisco de Solano, was not established until 1823. In those years, the Franciscans were able to turn California into a totally different land. It went from being the Native American's land to Spain's land, because the missions had control of the Native Americans and their lifestyle had been changed forever. The Camino Real, or Royal Road, was created and connected all the missions that spanned more than half of California. Spaniards and Mexicans moved to California in even greater numbers and made the land their own. There is a huge and obvious influence of both Spain and Mexico in California today. Although Californians may believe that they are purely American, I think that many do not realize how much influence they have from the past rulers of the state. It is amazing how quickly and how much Spain changed California and influenced its future.
Each mission was largely self-sustaining. The Native Americans at each mission worked all day on the various goods that the mission produced. Wheat, corn, vegetables, cattle, sheep, vineyards, and orchards were all grown or raised at each mission. The missions also had blacksmiths, used the tallow and leather from cows, weaved, and had a large workforce to clean and care for the mission. The missions were able to give supplies to other missions when they needed help, care for visitors when they came, and trade for anything they did not make. The mission economy was successful most years and provided the missions with work for the Native Americans, which was considered important to their becoming civilized, and enough good for everyone to live relatively comfortably at the mission.
Today, each one of the 21 original missions is open for the public to visit. While each one has been at least partially rebuilt due to the numerous disasters that have ruined the missions, such as fire and earthquakes, they have been rebuilt as accurately and originally as possible. Most have a museum with artifacts from the mission and information on the specific mission. They are some of the oldest buildings in California and have a lot of history behind them. Each mission is distinct in its history, architecture, and personality, but there is a clear connection in all of them. Most are still used a churches with services held each week.
I chose this topic because I love the California missions. I actually spent my honeymoon traveling California and visiting missions. I love to learn more about the missions (both the good and bad parts) and enjoy sharing information about them with other people. Many people forget about them after the 4th grade, but I think they are important to California's history, because they changed so much. My video is on the architecture and design of the missions, and has some good footage on both(http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5458145529129335922&ei=JCDoSIaAEJnWqAOLstzhBA&q=California+missions+video&vt=lf&hl=en). My article has general, yet thorough, information on the missions (http://www.cuca.k12.ca.us/lessons/missions/history/generalhistory.html). It discusses the founding, local Native Americans, economy, community, secularization, and present use.
The video comes from Encyclopaedia Britannica, one of the leading encyclopedias in the world. They publish well research and reviewed information. The article was written by Rob Garretson for his Master's degree. It is from the Cucamonga school district website. As Rob Garretson is a semi-expert, since he has received a related education and studied the missions, and a school recommends the article, it is credible.
There are 21 California missions, with the first one established in 1769 by Father Junipero Serra in San Diego. The last mission, San Francisco de Solano, was not established until 1823. In those years, the Franciscans were able to turn California into a totally different land. It went from being the Native American's land to Spain's land, because the missions had control of the Native Americans and their lifestyle had been changed forever. The Camino Real, or Royal Road, was created and connected all the missions that spanned more than half of California. Spaniards and Mexicans moved to California in even greater numbers and made the land their own. There is a huge and obvious influence of both Spain and Mexico in California today. Although Californians may believe that they are purely American, I think that many do not realize how much influence they have from the past rulers of the state. It is amazing how quickly and how much Spain changed California and influenced its future.
Each mission was largely self-sustaining. The Native Americans at each mission worked all day on the various goods that the mission produced. Wheat, corn, vegetables, cattle, sheep, vineyards, and orchards were all grown or raised at each mission. The missions also had blacksmiths, used the tallow and leather from cows, weaved, and had a large workforce to clean and care for the mission. The missions were able to give supplies to other missions when they needed help, care for visitors when they came, and trade for anything they did not make. The mission economy was successful most years and provided the missions with work for the Native Americans, which was considered important to their becoming civilized, and enough good for everyone to live relatively comfortably at the mission.
Today, each one of the 21 original missions is open for the public to visit. While each one has been at least partially rebuilt due to the numerous disasters that have ruined the missions, such as fire and earthquakes, they have been rebuilt as accurately and originally as possible. Most have a museum with artifacts from the mission and information on the specific mission. They are some of the oldest buildings in California and have a lot of history behind them. Each mission is distinct in its history, architecture, and personality, but there is a clear connection in all of them. Most are still used a churches with services held each week.
I chose this topic because I love the California missions. I actually spent my honeymoon traveling California and visiting missions. I love to learn more about the missions (both the good and bad parts) and enjoy sharing information about them with other people. Many people forget about them after the 4th grade, but I think they are important to California's history, because they changed so much. My video is on the architecture and design of the missions, and has some good footage on both(http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5458145529129335922&ei=JCDoSIaAEJnWqAOLstzhBA&q=California+missions+video&vt=lf&hl=en). My article has general, yet thorough, information on the missions (http://www.cuca.k12.ca.us/lessons/missions/history/generalhistory.html). It discusses the founding, local Native Americans, economy, community, secularization, and present use.
The video comes from Encyclopaedia Britannica, one of the leading encyclopedias in the world. They publish well research and reviewed information. The article was written by Rob Garretson for his Master's degree. It is from the Cucamonga school district website. As Rob Garretson is a semi-expert, since he has received a related education and studied the missions, and a school recommends the article, it is credible.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Danza de los Viejitos-Assignment 3b
The Danza de lof Viejitos )was all over the sources I looked at for my assignment on the Purepeches of Michoacan, Mexico. Once I saw the videos, I saw what a unique and entertaining art form the dance is. Literally translated, it means "Dance of the Little Old Men." It was a dance of the Purepeche from before the conquest, but it is still important in Michoacan today, where it is danced several times a year, including for Christmas. This dance has references to the past and present, and embraces the Purepeches. It is strong in culture and the values of the Purepeche and Michoacan. There is a good video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emk6xHdApNI
There is a lot in la danza that makes it important and appropriate for this assignment. First is all the art that has to be created for the dance. The masks of old men's faces are intricate masks, usually made of wood, with long white hair attached. The faces are joyful and humorous, which goes along with the vibrant dancing. Next, the Purepeche ponchos are long and colorful with Purepeche designs. Sombreros also have long colorful ribbons flowing from the top of the hat. The dance combines the actual dancing with the art that goes into making the costumes and the history of the ancient dance. The dancers use canes to walk hunched over and slowly, but once the music starts, they tap their feet and dance lightheartedly. Everything about the dance is happy, even though the men are extremely old and frail.
I think that the dance is about the sweetness of life, even when everything isn't perfect. While the men are old and cannot even stand up straight, they are able to dance through the night enjoying themselves. Before the music starts, the men hobble and fall, but when the music starts they can dance and dance, always in a lively manner. Their bodies are old, but they still enjoy music and life.
I chose this art because it is so different than anything I had seen before. It is a very unique dance that I think is beautiful and portraying an important message. It is beautiful because of the costumes and vibrant dance that makes people want to laugh from its humor, but also be happy to see old men enjoying themselves so much. It is amazing to see tired and old people transformed into lively and joyful people by something as simple as music. As surprising as it is, just seeing the transformation made me realize that little things like music and dance really can give people more energy and happiness. I am totally a modern person who often forgets to enjoy the simple and little parts of life, which can really make you happy if you take the time to enjoy them. While the original meaning of the dance has been lost from pre-columbian times, I see many messages that could be meaningful for people, just like me and the message that I see. The dance was presented to baby Jesus as a gift that shows the happiness and greatness of life, because the dancers did not have anything else to give him.
The Danza de los Viejitos is filled with color and has a very traditional costume. The ponchos that are worn are the traditional ponchos of the Purepeche, and since they are colorful and traditional, they are perfect for the dance. I would like to know,however, where the sombreros with colorful ribbons come from. They are beautiful and add to the flowing, lively nature of the dance. I can't find how long they have been a part of the costume and what they were originally (and still are) for, which I think would be very interesting.
There is a lot in la danza that makes it important and appropriate for this assignment. First is all the art that has to be created for the dance. The masks of old men's faces are intricate masks, usually made of wood, with long white hair attached. The faces are joyful and humorous, which goes along with the vibrant dancing. Next, the Purepeche ponchos are long and colorful with Purepeche designs. Sombreros also have long colorful ribbons flowing from the top of the hat. The dance combines the actual dancing with the art that goes into making the costumes and the history of the ancient dance. The dancers use canes to walk hunched over and slowly, but once the music starts, they tap their feet and dance lightheartedly. Everything about the dance is happy, even though the men are extremely old and frail.
I think that the dance is about the sweetness of life, even when everything isn't perfect. While the men are old and cannot even stand up straight, they are able to dance through the night enjoying themselves. Before the music starts, the men hobble and fall, but when the music starts they can dance and dance, always in a lively manner. Their bodies are old, but they still enjoy music and life.
I chose this art because it is so different than anything I had seen before. It is a very unique dance that I think is beautiful and portraying an important message. It is beautiful because of the costumes and vibrant dance that makes people want to laugh from its humor, but also be happy to see old men enjoying themselves so much. It is amazing to see tired and old people transformed into lively and joyful people by something as simple as music. As surprising as it is, just seeing the transformation made me realize that little things like music and dance really can give people more energy and happiness. I am totally a modern person who often forgets to enjoy the simple and little parts of life, which can really make you happy if you take the time to enjoy them. While the original meaning of the dance has been lost from pre-columbian times, I see many messages that could be meaningful for people, just like me and the message that I see. The dance was presented to baby Jesus as a gift that shows the happiness and greatness of life, because the dancers did not have anything else to give him.
The Danza de los Viejitos is filled with color and has a very traditional costume. The ponchos that are worn are the traditional ponchos of the Purepeche, and since they are colorful and traditional, they are perfect for the dance. I would like to know,however, where the sombreros with colorful ribbons come from. They are beautiful and add to the flowing, lively nature of the dance. I can't find how long they have been a part of the costume and what they were originally (and still are) for, which I think would be very interesting.
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