The Murals

I was very pleased to participate in this assignment.  I have never gone to visit the area where the murals have been painted but I was glad to participates in a very eye opening activity. What really stood out to me about the murals was the fact that there was an overall presence of female representation. Not only did the murals provide female representation, but the majority also looked to represent the Chicano culture that is prevalent in the El Paso area. There is not just one that stood out to me though,  there are many that provided me a different interpretation. There is one mural that has a girl dressed kind of boyish like a Chola. She is wearing tan baggy pants, and a white crop top. On her stomach reveals some kind of symbol. Perhaps an ancient symbol used in the culture represented. It is placed in a spot that could symbolize the importance of childhood within the culture. Her hand placement is also a interesting image to examine further. She places her hand covering her breasts as though it is an impurity for the viewer to see. I thought this was interesting to observe because if why would she be so ashamed of another crucial feature of child bearing. If is was okay enough to show her stomach and present a symbol on her, the chest area should be treated equally. This mural does symbolize this women as the "MOTHER OF EARTH" symbol, as it has her standing the center of the suns, clouds, stars and hovering in a god-like fashion over the grass. This may cause a unrealistic expectation that the women is a nature-loving child bearer and that is her major (perhaps only) role of the culture. I am that she is not portrayed more sexualized, but she is being exploited for only her child bearing abilities.

Another mural that stood out to me was the mural that portrayed Frida Kahlo. I thought this was a beautifully painted mural, the attention to detail was amazing. But looking at how Frida Kahlo was being presented was a different story. She is being represented as "La Viva" or the "Motherly Earth Symbol". She has flowers surrounded around her, presented in her dress, and in her hair. The flowers here are a pink and red, the colors that most often used to present the symbol of love. What is interesting is the chosen way they choose to depict Frida Kahlo. Yes, she did paint paintings where the veins would flow from her into the painting, or the symbolism of veins connecting the the things she cares about most. They are represented promply throughout the mural. But she is also beuing portrayed to be a beautiful women with no ill features. They painted this mural and put make up on Frida Kahlo's face... implying that women are only beautiful when they were make-up. She is also wearing a beautiful long dress. A long dress that is covering up a ailment of hers. This representation of Frida Kahlo is yes beautiful, but also detrimental of portraying the correct image and story of Frida Kahlo. I also could no understand the placement of the cars at the bottom of the mural. Is she God of the vintage vehicles too?

Walking back and forth between the murals there is a common theme throughout the female representation. Women are viewed as the God, The Creator of Life, The Mother and that's it. Those are all the roles I was seeing women being portrayed in. And women are not only known for these features. And these images have been prevalent in the Chicana culture for decades.Seeing these images are worrisome in today's culture, because women are fighting to change these sterotypes that have been placed upon us. Not all women are loving, motherly, and care for the earth. If this were the case there would be no global warming. Women wouldn't be seen to men as just second class citizens. They would be able to be elected into higher offices if they were seen as such a god, but we don't even have a high power of authority representing us. These are not now negative sterotypes that do not support the true image of the Chicana movement.