Week 2: Claudia E. Zapata Reading

How have blogs and weblogs benefitted and/or limited digital art for Chicanx/Latinx artists? 

  The 1980's brought a digital revolution that has both benefitted and limited the Chicanx/Latinx art space. As the digital revolution unraveled, existing artists learned to adapt to the upcoming mediums of art and new artists emerged because of the increased accessibility brought by digitized art. The digitization of art also amplified the exposure of Chicanx/Latinx artists through different social media applications, one being in the form of blogs/weblogs. 

Julio Salgado is an artivist who has used blogs and weblogs to increase visibility for previously unseen immigrants in the name of activism. Salgado has used blogs to rethink the immigrant movement, specifically with those that identify as undocumented and queer; he is a prime example of the benefits an artist obtains in a digital era. For example, in 2012 Salgado sought out others who identify as undocuqueer to be a part of an artistic project and he quickly found participants through Tumblr. His blog not only made getting participants more plausible, but he gave the undocuqueer community immense exposure. 

Since Julio Salgado is an undocumented artist in the U.S., he was hesitant in entering the art space as a street artist due to fear of incarceration and deportation. However, social media through the form of apps and blogs, gave Salgado an alternative gallery space. Just like Salgado, the entire undocuqueer community has greatly benefitted from these digital platforms because of the mobility, intimacy, and option for anonymity. Undocuqueer artists now have the ability to reach a nationwide audience without fearing incarceration and/or deportation. 

Although there are benefits to digital platforms for Chicanx/Latinx artists, there are also ways in which these platforms attempt to limit these artists. These artists do not always get a fair share of exposure due to the algorithmic oppression found in some of these platforms. Which leads me to this question: How can the Chicanx/Latinx community support artists in combatting algorithmic oppression?