Blog 4: Laura Alvarez

Laura Alvarez’s print titled Shoot Back Behind my Back, silkscreen, really stands out to me from the rest of her works. Her choices of color are dark, and yet still stand out at the same time. These colors represent the chilling image of the clown that appears to be a representation of the sleeping hollow. I appreciate how Laura incorporated her Double Agent Sirvienta into this classic tale of the sleeping hollow. We can see that Double Agent Sirvienta is shooting at the clown and that she is not scared to take him out. The print it self is simple, yet expresses a very creative and dark scene. A connection can be made with this print and Blake’s Chicana Sexuality and Gender. Blake stresses in her book about how stereotypical gender roles and culture prevent women from doing what they want to do and that they belong to a man. The typical character in the sleeping hollow tale would originally be a man, yet Laura incorporated Double Agent Sirvienta to battle against the headless horseman, which goes against the tales typical gender roles. Having Double Agent Sirvienta here encompasses that woman are powerful, strong, and independent, just as men are portrayed. I believe that not only does this print connect to Blake’s Chicana Sexuality and Gender, but to the character Double Agent Sirvienta as well. Double Agent Sirvienta represents Laura’s mother and how all women are hard workers, regardless of their occupation, which is what makes them the incredible independent and inspirational people that they are. Blake would want women to be envisioned in this way, which steers clear from societies stereotypical gender roles.