Shifra Goldman_The Iconography of Chicano Self-Determination

The Iconography of Chicano Self-Determination: Race, Ethnicity, and Class by Shifra M. Goldman is an article about how Chicanos reclaimed their Mexican heritage and history to create art that questioned and mimicked the implemented notions of race, ethnicity, and class in the United States.  Furthermore, Chicano art recognizes, identifies, and expresses an indigenous heritage which shows in many of the murals. Often, the murals present modern issues while using historical figures.  The article also mentioned that people often identify themselves with the stereotypes that they face because often the stereotypes are ethnic- based and it is quite common to identify oneself with their ethnicity and culture.  Moreover, stereotypes and current issues serve as the inspiration for a work of art.  For example, the San Diego Donkey Cart Masquette by David Avalos displays an immigrant being detained by an immigration office, and he is positioned into the figure of the crucifix, also the irony shows in the text, “Bienvenidos amigos”, demonstrating that Mexico is welcoming of tourists from the United States however there are many xenophobic people in the United States that dehumanize immigrants.

Yolanda Lopez’s piece of Guadalupe-Tonantzin is an example of her self-determination because she is reclaiming her indigenous background, moreover, she is shattering the idea of a Catholic icon because she replaced the Catholic virgen with the image of an Aztec goddess as the mother of Chicanas.