Gonzalez, Kayla

My name is Kayla Gonzalez and I am a second year Cognitive Science major and minoring in Chicanx Studies. I have an academic interest in how humans and artificial intelligence can co-exist, I do not have any plans to do research, however if the opportunity arises then I might research about the relationship between humans and robots. I have taken previous Chicanx courses, and I found them to be extremely profound and moving for me, hence I initiated to minor in Chicanx Studies. I decided to take this course because I have a fond love of art and especially within the Chicanx community there are countless talented activist artists whom I admire. Furthermore, I want to broaden my knowledge about Chicana Art, since it is important to acknowledge the fact that these women do pave the way for other Chicana’s to follow. I am also from Long Beach, California, I’m an avid animal lover; I have a black Labrador who I love very much.

Something that caught my attention in “It’s Not about the Santa in my Fe, but the Santa Fe in My Santa” by Alma Lopez in which she ponders about the legacy of La Virgen de Guadalupe. Similarly, I do believe and I was also raised to believe that La Virgen was an icon in which all the little girls looked up to. Furthermore, Alma Lopez discusses the controversies about how La Virgen is a role model. She shares with the reader how La Virgen is an icon to many little girls, which angers her because La Virgen represents purity, innocence, and most importantly-- virginity. These characteristics, which girls are raised to follow are ridiculously unrealistic, hence Lopez alters the image of La Virgen with her own different aspects.