In writing my paper I found that I was stuck between choosing just the three out of many quotes that caught my attention in Debra Blakes book, so for this week's post, I decided to talk about a quote I didn't choose for my paper but also made me gain a different perspective. “These re-presentations of strong and combative women exist in stark contrast to the traditional image of the long-suffering Mexican Virgin who does not have the power to act and who bears all suffering and injustice without complaint” (Blake, 64). In this quote, Blake is describing the influence that icons like La Malinche, La Llorona and Mexica goddesses have on Chicana artists and writers, seen through their re-presentations in their work.
Through the works of artists like Yolanda Lopez, Alma Lopez, Sandra Cisneros, and Cherrie Moraga, these icons can be represented as empowering feminist figures to help Chicana women redefine their gendered boundaries in traditional roles and sexuality. What really caught my attention about this quote is the acknowledgment that the Virgen is a figure who represents the complacent and non-confrontational Chicana that is desired by Chicano men. As women, we are left to bear the suffering, the tragedies, and stay grounded enough to support our families. Throughout the entire book, I was able to uncover so much about these icons I grew up with, through perspectives I never thought I could imaginably perceive. I've known what it is to reclaim something, historically for groups of racial or political pariahs, but to culturally refigure something or someone, as these artists have done is something that reclaims history, culture, and identity.
It was very interesting to me to see how these cultural icons have been molded to fit ideals that contrast the patron saint Guadalupe, and used against Chicanas to outline to us what our fates will be as we stray away from the virginal path imagined to us by our mothers. It takes power to re-imagine La Virgen and every icon that has been treated as whores or traitors. Just as their images have been defined by men in power, wishing to promote their continuing privileges, we can redefine their influence through our own oral histories to find empowerment.
Through the works of artists like Yolanda Lopez, Alma Lopez, Sandra Cisneros, and Cherrie Moraga, these icons can be represented as empowering feminist figures to help Chicana women redefine their gendered boundaries in traditional roles and sexuality. What really caught my attention about this quote is the acknowledgment that the Virgen is a figure who represents the complacent and non-confrontational Chicana that is desired by Chicano men. As women, we are left to bear the suffering, the tragedies, and stay grounded enough to support our families. Throughout the entire book, I was able to uncover so much about these icons I grew up with, through perspectives I never thought I could imaginably perceive. I've known what it is to reclaim something, historically for groups of racial or political pariahs, but to culturally refigure something or someone, as these artists have done is something that reclaims history, culture, and identity.
It was very interesting to me to see how these cultural icons have been molded to fit ideals that contrast the patron saint Guadalupe, and used against Chicanas to outline to us what our fates will be as we stray away from the virginal path imagined to us by our mothers. It takes power to re-imagine La Virgen and every icon that has been treated as whores or traitors. Just as their images have been defined by men in power, wishing to promote their continuing privileges, we can redefine their influence through our own oral histories to find empowerment.
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