Estrada Regina

Hi Everyone!

My name is Regina Estrada. Something interesting is that my name Regina has been traditionally passed down for a long time. My pronouns are (she/her/hers). I was born and raised in Los Angeles. Being raised here has definitely shaped who I am and what my interests are. First, I am grateful to be able to live in a culturally diverse area because it is a form education we cannot obtain from academia. This has exposed me to experience and know the injustices that occur to minorities, like myself, therefore I have chosen my major to be political science and a minor in Chicana and Chicano studies. I am a second-year student who now more than ever realizes my participation in academia is vital in shaping future narratives. My choice of taking this class arose from my lack of knowledge of art when it came to Chicanas. I think art is very powerful that sometimes words can never portray so I look forward to being exposed to powerful creations. I identify as a Chicana so my interest in learning about the history, the political perspective and the cultural perspectives. In recent classes I have learned that it is important to keep learning in order to take space in academic narratives and dialogue. My goal of taking this class is talk away being knowledgeable in how art makes an impact in history and learning through the lens of art instead of words. 

I enjoy watching a lot of shows and movies in different genres, but my favorite is comedy because who doesn’t love a good laugh? I enjoy always trying new things for example, just tried snowboarding and kept falling every 3 seconds but it was so exciting and fun! 

In this week’s reading, “Printing and Collecting the Revolution, The Rise and Impact of Chicanos Graphics, !965 to Now” by E. Carmen Ramos, makes the argument that art can create a tool or “weapon” for a revolution. Art described by Ramos can break the past and be a

tool for political and societal progress. Ramos uses Malaquias Montoya’s prints as her prime example of how it broke down barriers and allowed for Chicanos to reclaim the word. Art is another form of information that does not need words to express a powerful message. As we see in Montoya’s print, shackles being broken to show how the past is being tested and rejected. It gives Chicanas and Chicanos a deep sense of pride where it makes us steer away from being embarrassed to be labeled as “Chicana/o”.  Diving into being a Chicana, art has allowed for them to exclusively show their experiences. This helps Chicanas because it gives them a voice that is unique and separate from the Chicano narratives and experiences.