Anzaldua Border Arte Nepantla, el lugar de la Frontera By: Ruben Ruiz Introducing Border Art Indigenous culture is being taught by whites in museums in their own version, upsets Anzaldua. Talk as if Aztec culture has been dead for hundreds of years when there are still 10,000 Aztecs living. Many cultures meet at USA/Mex. border while artists constantly change images and “place” according to themselves. “Portrait” is an example of cultural rebirth of Chicana struggling to free self from oppressive gender roles. Three Mothers of Chicana/o Art La Virgen Guadalupe, La Malinche, and La Llorona Cultural figures that re-read in works and represent resistance to repression and assimilation. Barraza and painting of La Malinche is an example of this. Retablos: traditional popular miracle paintings on metal, introduced by the Spanish. Artists connect everyday life with political, sacred, and aesthetics in art. Culture of Border Art Culture touches and influences another, passes metaphors and gods before dies. (Metaphors are gods) New cultures adopt, modify, and enrich images passing them on relating them to prevailing culture and era. Introduces the concept of “Nepantla” Nahuatl for in between states, uncertain terrain when moving from place to place, social class, race, sex position, or present to new identity. Jorge Luis Borge’s Aleph, one spot on earth the contains all people and places residing in peace and unison. Border in constant nepantla. Examples of Border Art Threats/Challenges & Resolutions Threats Appropriation by poplar culture, dominant art institutions, and economic depression. Titles of “Chicana” or “border” artists are demeaning labels stripping legitimacy of the art. Signals inferiority to other artists. Challenge and subvert imperialism of US and combat assimilation by US or Mexico but acknowledge both. Supersedes pictorials, depicts soul of artist and soul of pueblo. Autohistorias: who tells the story and what stories and histories are told. Becoming dominant in art is not their goal, done for a purpose and a story. Conclusion The Border is a historical and metaphorical site where artists transform space, USA and Mexico into one. Deals with shifting identities, border crossings, and hybridism. “From earth we are born, to earth we shall return.” (pg. 184) Discussion Have you ever been to a border between two countries? What was it like? Do you feel that border arte is truly a representation of multiple cultures between the US and Mexico meshed into one unique culture? Explain. What does it mean to you when Anzaldua says, “from earth we are born, and to earth we shall return”? Do you think life is a cycle and that earth “eats the dead”? .

1. Anzaldua
Border Arte
Nepantla, el lugar de la Frontera
By: Ruben Ruiz
Introducing Border Art
Indigenous culture is being taught by whites in museums in
their own version, upsets Anzaldua.
Talk as if Aztec culture has been dead for hundreds of years
when there are still 10,000 Aztecs living.
Many cultures meet at USA/Mex. border while artists constantly
change images and “place” according to themselves.
“Portrait” is an example of cultural rebirth of Chicana
struggling to free self from oppressive gender roles.
Three Mothers of Chicana/o Art
La Virgen Guadalupe, La Malinche, and La Llorona
Cultural figures that re-read in works and represent resistance to
repression and assimilation.
Barraza and painting of La Malinche is an example of this.
Retablos: traditional popular miracle paintings on metal,
introduced by the Spanish.
Artists connect everyday life with political, sacred, and
aesthetics in art.

2. Culture of Border Art
Culture touches and influences another, passes metaphors and
gods before dies. (Metaphors are gods)
New cultures adopt, modify, and enrich images passing them on
relating them to prevailing culture and era.
Introduces the concept of “Nepantla”
Nahuatl for in between states, uncertain terrain when moving
from place to place, social class, race, sex position, or present
to new identity.
Jorge Luis Borge’s Aleph, one spot on earth the contains all
people and places residing in peace and unison.
Border in constant nepantla.
Examples of Border Art
Threats/Challenges & Resolutions
Threats
Appropriation by poplar culture, dominant art institutions, and
economic depression.
Titles of “Chicana” or “border” artists are demeaning labels
stripping legitimacy of the art. Signals inferiority to other
artists.
Challenge and subvert imperialism of US and combat
assimilation by US or Mexico but acknowledge both.
Supersedes pictorials, depicts soul of artist and soul of pueblo.
Autohistorias: who tells the story and what stories and histories
are told.
Becoming dominant in art is not their goal, done for a purpose
and a story.

3. Conclusion
The Border is a historical and metaphorical site where artists
transform space, USA and Mexico into one.
Deals with shifting identities, border crossings, and hybridism.
“From earth we are born, to earth we shall return.” (pg. 184)
Discussion
Have you ever been to a border between two countries? What
was it like? Do you feel that border arte is truly a representation
of multiple cultures between the US and Mexico meshed into
one unique culture? Explain.
What does it mean to you when Anzaldua says, “from earth we
are born, and to earth we shall return”? Do you think life is a
cycle and that earth “eats the dead”?