Andean beliefs...

The Andean beliefs seem to be different from the past people that we have studied. Collectivity, Reciprocity, Transformation, and Essence being the most important features of their culture and worldview. Collecticity in which the people focused on the 'common good' how Andean art focuses more on an individuals role in which their society there was an unequal distribution of power; highest power held by the priests (shaman). It was necessary for them to focus on the common good due to the fact of how their geography was living on the dessert, mountains, or the jungle each a difficult task if they were to help their people it was a teamwork outlook. Reciprocity in which one part is countered by and connected by another helps us understand the art as well how there is two things that can be opposite such as light and shadow, male and female we are able to see that they are still connected in some way needed for the other to exist. Transformation overall the big example would be life and death, showing how the two are just a natural cycle that continues. Also seen with the shaman how when they go into their transit they enter different stages in order to get a revilation, an answer, to speak with spirits he would do this in order to be connected with both the natural and supernatural worlds. Essence over apperance is seen in Nasca lines in which the point is not necessarily to see what is being convayed but to feel it (leading back to Pollock's art how he during his creations would feel and the ending product perhaps doesn't show but can create a certain feeling or idea).
"The inner core over the outward apperance" does help having seen previous art work of other indiginous people has lead me to see that there is 'more than meets the eye'. Art and even people can't be just expected to be understood by a glance one look doesn't tell you what is needed to know. It takes time to really focus and view what is there what isn't think about all the possible interpertations and just remember that its art it envokes the feelings and ideas of others that may be some what similar or extremly different from one's own feelings or ideas. Its like getting to know an individual apperances can be appealing but what really matters that needs understanding and consideration is what's inside who the individual is.

Module 6

Aztec Masks

Having seen all the Aztec masks in the powerpoint I noticed that all these masks have a sense of superiority to what the human being is.
Like these masks we all wear different masks each day. Such masks may be for example the student: which we use to fit into the role that society has made acceptable for someone to be considered a student. There is also the son/daughter, friend, spouse, mother/father, even further on to having masks that fit carrers such as a doctor, teacher, politician, religious leader. When wearing one of these masks we tend to fit the role society expects and wearing the masks gives us a certain amount of power. For the Mesoamerican dead kings we see how these masks they wore in their tombs had a sence of some superiority, although the masks that we have seen made look all similar expressing some point of uniformity. Perhaps our masks are made to fit what society wants while the Aztecs saw that masks were to remind them that their gods held the power that as humns they owed them.
These masks, as I see it, help us fit perfectly into this world we try to be our best and often these masks are also ways to not show fear. Seeing the Aztec mask of the god Tezcatlipoca (Smoking Mirror) or the mask representing both Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent)/Tlaloc (the rain god) show some fear that they had to the superior power. Masks like the ones that we see super heros wear are because it helps us hide our real identity to allows us to do extraordinary things that we wouldn't do normally.

Moduel 3
Maya people today face difficulties that I thought wouldn't exist as much. It is unbelievable that in Chiapas these indigenous people were denied something as basic as phone service, this being in 2001. TelMex had Mut Vitz apply three times just for telephone services in order to communicate for their business. It is sad how even with the governor's help with documents they were told that no telephone service would provide to the hundreds of people, even though they would pay for the services. This is just showing how even within people with some similarities there is no real acceptance, perhaps no understanding that even the Maya people who are 'indios' can strive and live during our time. How is it possible that such services be denied to people with a large business as coffee that is in fair trade? If this is just denying a group a way of communication it is only trying to force them to be less than the rest.
The Maya men in Guatemala not wearing their traditional clothes because of the danger of "calling attention" in being recognized as Maya, this is just showing how there is fear to keep representing who they really are. I wonder how these men can keep their traditions and life styles when part of who they are is not accepted, something that causes some fear in them perhaps.

Module 1-Mexico

Mexico

Its been many years since I last visited Mexico. I remember visiting my father's family in Guadalajara, Jalisco and in Guerrero my mother's family. Guadalajara I remember was all music I noticed that every family was large all of them interacted. It was an eye opener to see how much family I had that lived within the same fifteen blocks. Everyone talking to eachother even to strangers and all of them sining in unison. Religion is a huge role in the culture my grandfather lived across the church and it was amazing to see how within five minutes all the benches were filled. No matter what the religion that the individual has it is valued by everyone, the church across the street was beautiful the inside paintings small statues and the glass stained windows all fit how the people at Guadalajar would be expected to be.
 From when I went to Guerrero it was not a city like ambiance like in Guadalajara the land was somewhat like it is in Tahoe. The mountains all filled with green and the dirt had a rich earthy aroma. I could see was how in her small hometown everyone was connected with the land; walking, working on it, the songs heard were of the land and family. Their homes were slowly progressing, some homes were just one large room (more of a patio) some had no roofs and most had no real plumming. The newer homes still had the bright colors reds browns vines and plants growing along showing that they still wanted to keep this part of their land.
Lastly what makes me think of Mexico is the clothing not just the bright clothes with flower patterns but also thoes of the indians all these colors show the lively spirit the people have. These dresses that I saw with the flower patterns were valued by the sellers and buyers. For one the flocorico dresses are more from Jalisco while in Guererro the dresses werent as bright rather gave a more humble hardworking look had a few flowers the color of the dresses were eggshell.
It is a rich culture that values family, its land, religion, and especially their country's past. To think about it from other friends that come from other countries like El Salvador, Nicaragua all talk about similar values. I really would love to visit La Piramide del Sol (Pyrimid of the sun) in Teotihuacan and La Piramide de la Luna (moon).