Week 4

Essay regarding Like water for Chocolate:

In viewing the movie Like Water for Chocolate it became very quickly apparent how deeply love and passion can be embedded in the Latino culture. The new term I became familiar with, magic realism, seems to be a term that isn’t new at all in Latino film and print. Strong beliefs, love, and passion run so strong in this film. Tita a young woman whom very early on falls deeply in love with Pedro finds out that he loves her equally as much. The only problem is that Tita comes from a strong family belief that she will never be allowed to marry. In order to be close to Tita, Pedro agrees to marry her sister, Rosaura. Many events enfold, magical realism pops up often while Tita is busy cooking in the kitchen. This movie is based during the Mexican Revolutionary period of Mexico and has many references to those times.
The family members live on a farm with the 3 daughters, and the mother, who clearly oppresses the children as she sees fit for herself. When the oldest of the children becomes magically drawn to a revolutionary, the mother writes her off for good. Tita remains the cooking servant of the household forced to watch the love of her life marry and have a child with her sister. All the while Tita’s mother treats her horribly, forcing her to be her personal servant. Tita and Pedro eventually cannot hold back the love any longer. After the death of her mother a series of events take place where Tita’s dead mother is speaking to her and cursing her for sinning. In the long run Tita and Pedro allow themselves to be together, the love is too much for them to handle Pedro dies, and Tita initiates her own death. Being together was all the two of them every really wanted and death was worth the final moments of their lives, consummating their love.
Oppression is definitely very present here both from the level of Tita’s mother and Tita but also that of the daughters themselves. They live under the rule of their mother and never speak out against her. The onetime Tita does speak out she is beaten and chastised, even characterized as being mental, and forced away. Another terrible act of oppression is the rape of Chencha during a time when Tita is away, and some soldiers came to the farm. Women although loved by some of the men, definetly where objectified and used in only certain roles. These actions directly coincide with the civil rights issues we face in the fact that a group or type of person is oppressed repeatedly. I remember reading in Freire; he states that when the oppressed free themselves from the oppressor, that in turn free’s the oppressor himself. In Like Water for Chocolate, when Tita finally speaks out against the ghost of her mother and tells her to leave and be gone, she finally finds peace. In contrast to the rest of the film where she does everything her mother as and continuously reaps the oppression at the hands of her mother. It was at that moment of her speaking out that she was able to free herself from her mother, and in turn her mother left for good. The movie is one of my favorite, introduced to me at a young age. The magic realism adds a level of interest to the film that makes you wonder if it could really be true, because the culture is so strong we are left to believe it can be.




.
What does Independence period of Latin America mean? (google this)
Latin American wars of independence seemed to have stretch amongst a huge period, Brazil, Haiti, Cuba, and many other Latin American and many other countries all had periods of war and declaration of independence. All of which were oppressed and taken over by different English colonies that settled in. Venezuela, Columbia, Educator, and Argentina were another few that all suffered from Spanish rule, and all locations had wars and fought for independence. Haiti was involved in working to free black slaves from French rule. Interestingly enough due to all the new nations popping up due to war and declaration of independence The United States of America determined they would not tolerate European interference.

What does present time or contemporary time Latin America mean? (use from previous week)
Present day Latin America can be described as a very rich yet still struggling area. Inequality is still present but huge leaps are taking place to change the way the countries are run.

What is MOLAA and how does artwork or events regarding artistic events combine elements of the past and present? (You will do this weekly; but notice how the theme of the week or the topic or case study may cause you to write a different response even though MOLAA is the same place physically.)
Many of the artists use contemporary styles and effects however it seems that they also incorporate their cultures and past histories, even family values and struggles.

What do you usually do when you visit a museum and view a piece of art? (For example, what do you typically focus on, or look for, or think). How is this changing weekly especially in light of the critique links below?
It changes weekly for me because the more I learn about the Independence periods of Latin America I realize the depth of struggle Latin people has endured. I also feel that the level of passion is so very strong. I am beginning to understand why so many definition of Latin America refer to land and place of the language of Love.
MOLLA exhibit choice
This week I choose to view the work of Felipe Ehrenberg, called Codex Aeroscriptus Ehrenbergensis
1. What stands out the most when you first see it? The colors, and the skeletons, skeleton faces, and the helicopter
.
2. Explain the reason you notice the thing you mention in number 1.
Well the colors are bright and brilliant, so that was pretty to me but the skeletons stood out because they to me seemed to represent the dead, but they seemed to also be happy so that made me think.
.
3. As you keep looking, what else seems important?
The helicopter seems to be of importance, in the lower part of the piece the helicopter’s front area is a skeleton and that seemed odd to me which means it might represent something of importance.
.
5. Why does the thing you mention in number 3 seem important?
I am thinking that maybe military was the cause of death; also the backgrounds seem lush so it could be during a war in tropical areas. But death is either celebrated or simply remembered in this piece to me.
.
5. How has contrast been used? Contrast was represented in the colors for sure, but another contrast here is death and happiness.
.
6. What leads your eye around from place to place?
The white skeletons lead my eye from top to bottom and the bright colors
.
7. What tells you about the style used by this artist?
He used contrast of dark and light colors specifically bright colors.
.
8. What seems to be hiding in this composition?
The reasoning for the death and the meaning of the death
.
9. Why do you think this was partially hidden?
I think that the artist expects the people to know and understand the struggle or the reasoning for death. Or he means for fellow sufferers or celebrators to automatically be connected to his work.
.
10. Imagine the feelings and meanings this artwork represents?
The feelings are deep, feeling of love or sadness for the loss of loved ones.
.
11. What titles could you give this artwork?
Celebration of life, or Remembrance of struggle
.
12. What other things interest you about this artwork?
The indigenous type face paint he used on the white skeletons that was pretty and seems to represent culture.

.


Multiple Choice from Peers work


2. The film Like Water For Chocolate is based on
· a novel*
· a true story
· a play
· a children's book
· none of the above

1. What does Tita transfer her feelings and emotions through?a. artworkb. cooking*c. eatingd. farminge. laughing
· 2.) Magic Realism is considered what genre?
· a. literary and visual art*b. music and filmc. performing art and literaryd. literary and musice. None of these

Who is argued by some to be the first magic realist creative writer?
a. Alejo Carpentier
b. Arturo Uslar Pietri
c. José Ortega y Gasset
d. Diego Maradona
e. Massimo Bontempelli*

4. Which author most represents magic realism?
Jose Gutierrez
Pablo Escabar
Filiberto Gonzalez
Isabel Allende
Gabriel Marquez*

5.MOLAA allows:a. banquetsb. meetingsc. corporate eventsd. weddingse. all of the above***

2. What years did the Mexican Revolution take place?A. 1770-1776B. 1812-1820C. 1841-1845D. 1887-1900E. 1910-1917 *

6. In Like Water For Chocolate we see magic realism whena. Tita’s mother appearsb. Tita’s grandmother appearsc. Tita eats matches, causing a fired. everyone gets sick from eating Tita’s foode. all of the above*

10. what year was Laura Esquivel born?

1949
1950*
1940
1948
1978










Multiple Choice for Week 4
1. Magic Realism is:

A. Magic Tricks that really work
B. Magical elements are blended into a realistic atmosphere****
C. A method of performing magic
D. A type of magic that is hard to learn
E. None of the above

2. Tita stated that what element was what made her cooking so good?

A. Organic products
B. Only the youngest female did the cooking
C. Love was the key ingredient**
D. Recipes passed down from generation
E. Chocolate

3. Why was Tita ordered to never marry?

A. She wasn’t good enough for any man
B. A Family Tradition stated so***
C. She was going into the convent
D. She choose not to marry
E. None of these

4. Paulo Freire stated that by freeing yourself from oppression you also free who?

A. Children
B. Argentina
C. The Oppressors***
D. Harvard Law students
E. Farm Worker

5. The term “Magic Realism” was first introduced in what year?

A. 1919
B. 1997
C. 1955**
D. 1897
E. 1945

6. Laura Esquivel was the first Mexican Novelist that published what novel in 1989?

A. One hundred Years of Solitude
B. Like Water for Chocolate***
C. The Kingdom of this World
D. Beloved
E. None of these

7. Why did Pedro agree to marry Rosaura?

A. She was beautiful
B. He was forced to by his father
C. To be closer to Tita**
D. Because tradition stated he must do so
E. None of these

8. What celebration is the Museum of Latin American Art having special presentations of new murals for?
A. Mexico’s bicentennial**
B. Latin American Culture
C. Southern California Celebration
D. Molla celebration for the summer
E. None of the above

9. Who is Felipe Ehrenberg

A. a contemporary artist with art at the molla
B. Tita’s lover
C. An Argentinean revolutionist
D. a student of Paulo Freire
E. the husband of Gertrudis

10. What does Paulo Freire say about abolishing the situation of oppression?
A. It is a necessity in order to love
B. He never spoke on this matter
C. It is impossible to abolish oppression
D. To love oppression it to be an oppressor
E. Only by abolishing the situation of oppression can we restore the love which that situation made impossible.




Dialogue Sample:
When I further researched Latin American Revolutionary periods this week I was so surprised that the period of war was throughout all of Latin America. Each independent country was fighting for rights and independence all at the oppressed hands of European influence. War after war, and recognized Latino people were spoke of that had huge parts in helping to bring the end of a terribly oppressed era. Each area had their reasons for fighting but all had reason. I realize that these regions have come so far. I am so impressed that Paulo Freire took the interest and time to fight such a huge battle. I understand more why he took such an interest in oppression and how deeply it becomes embedded in our minds and society. I recently read an article where a social worker spoke of Freire’s work and oppression in general. He used the example of being at a soccer game of his sons and witnessing other fathers speak derogatory to their sons, using words like gay and other terms to insinuate that they were weak. This gentleman realized that by standing there and saying nothing he was too aiding in the oppression of people poorly treated and even that of the gay community. This directly goes back to what Freire teaches about how we must stand up for the oppressed, even ourselves in order to change things. It really makes you think about how we all could help to change