February 7, 2002
Subject: Re: AztlanNet: Nature of Art
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2002 10:45:27 -0800 (PST)
From: michael sedano <mvsedano@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: AztlanNet@yahoogroups.com
To: AztlanNet@yahoogroups.com
The notion of a "group mind" or "collective
unconscious" and similar terms help us account for the operation in the
actual world, of "culture," an abstraction that cannot be witnessed.
Only the artifacts of a culture can be witnessed. Culture's within one, like
the "beliefs" Pedro preaches about. Go to a dictionary and you'll
read something about the total way of life of a people including the tools
and implements of their physical existence together with their ideas, languages,
symbols, logic, and rhetoric. Communication is a dang good tool,by the way.
The one image, or the series of Lupita images, and Pedro's distress, are two
of the components that make the living, growing, adapting culture. Pedro doesn't
like what he sees because of his culture. Alma created what she created because
of her culture. Alma and Pedro, in and of the same culture. Divergent experiences,
however.
Bottom line: complain all you want Pedro, Alma needs no defense, and nothing
that has gone before her image argues against the viability and authenticity
of her virgin image or any image she creates as legitimate and acceptable
within anyone's understanding and appreciation of chicana and chicano art.
Politics, gender politics, aesthetic terrorism, these things transcend particular
cultures and cannot meaningfully be the sole focus of a debate on art values.
mvs
c/s
Subject: AztlanNet: mvs notions re Nature of
Art
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2002 14:50:26 EST
From: Sedeno7@aol.com
Reply-To: AztlanNet@yahoogroups.com
To: AztlanNet@yahoogroups.com
CC: kaytiejohnson@yahoo.com, TraveisaBlue@aol.com, gbejerano@aztlannet.com,
Gmendoza4@aol.com, NAFTAZTC@aol.com, tmnunn@moifa.org, joeyspouch2004@yahoo.com
mvsedano wrote: Bottom
line: complain all you want Pedro, Alma needs no defense, and nothing that
has gone before her image argues against the viability and authenticity of
her virgin image
MVSedano, cut the rhetoric, you're merely coming from the ego. While Alma Lopez makes up her mind as to whether Our Lady of Guadalupe exists or not and if the apparition really took place, I think that there are Chicana artists that not only look at Her Image, but actually connect themselves to the Spirit behind the Image, through an exercise of faith.
Bottom line: Instead of indulging in pamplinas
about La Lupe cavorting with loteria mermaids and in Her new line
of underwear (talk about obsessing on sexuality!) (viability? -mvs rhetoric),
other Chicana artists connect themselves to spirit realities,
and also to a culture that is advancing. It is their art I am more interested
in looking at and talking about, and seeing museums and AztlanNEt.com validate
as "authentic" or relevant changing expressions of Chicano/a
culture.
BTW, did anybody see the UC-Davis show on contemporary Guadalupes? Was there a catalogue? Was it any good? What is the name of the gallery there again? Also, does someone know Santa Barazza's e-ma address?
Subject: Re: AztlanNet: mvs notions re Nature
of Art
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2002 00:42:02 -0000
From: "mvsedano" <mvsedano@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: AztlanNet@yahoogroups.com
To: AztlanNet@yahoogroups.com
What do you have against "rhetoric"?
And my ego, for all that matters?
Rhetorical composition is what gives words shape and form as persuasive messages.
Without "rhetoric" writing and speaking lack adaptation to an intended
audience.
"Viability" is precisely Pedro's objection. Viable, capable of sustained
existence as an independent or autonomous existence. Pedro denies that the
Lupe in Two-Piece should exist at all! Hence, "viability" is an
issue in the debate (thus rhetorical, esa).
I'm not sure what you mean by Alma Lopez making up her mind. You think Our
Lady exists, upon her demise she ascended to sit at the left hand of God.
That legend, dear person, is rhetoric of the highest art!
Does your paragraph mean you believe Alma Lopez' art is not connected to spirit
realities? I don't understand how a figure's mode of dress cuts the connections
between the source image and the current derived image? Nor can I accept your
and Pedro's belief that dress equates with sexual motives, either the artist's
or the Virgin's. I venture that you believe the Alma Lopez image devoid of
the religiosity you invest in the image. You're right, if you the critic hold
that opinion. Doesn't make the artwork any the less viable as art, nor artistic
as chicana expression.
Joann, I'm sorry you're upset, but please endeavor to make sense.
Separate your personal beliefs from standards or values that we--you and I--
can share in common, i.e. speak in more broadly cultural ways that don't suppose
your religiosity supercedes anything I might believe. Yes, that, too, is rhetorical.
Rhetoric lies at the heart of communication. Rhetoric is what makes human
communication different from what animals do. rhetorically,
mvs
scientia bene dicendi
c/s
Subject:
Re: AztlanNet: mvs notions re Nature of Art
Date:
Thu, 07 Feb 2002 17:33:57 -0800
From:
JoAnn <joannpen@attbi.com>
Reply-To:
AztlanNet@yahoogroups.com
Michael --
Heck no, I'm not upset with you. I can't imagine anyone thinking my 'religiosity'
supercedes anything, especially your values or beliefs. I'm generally in agreement
with your expression in these debates. Hey, I'm one who was defending Alma's
right to her own expression.
That said, yes I thought the exhibit at UC Davis was excellent, because of,
not despite, the varied interpretations. There were wonderful pieces by Dominguez,
Favela, Cid, several Montoyas, Hernandez, Buenrostro, and more than I can
name. Any exhibit that includes these artists would be a treat, and the Guadalupe
theme showed they are all willing to consider the meaning of this symbol,
even in the broadest sense. It was clear that all own it and no one wholly
owns it.
As I said once before, I don't think any symbol -- cross, flag, dollar bills
or the virgen -- is off limits for artistic reinterpretation.
JoAnn A.