This is the blog for the UCLA Chicanx Latinx Art and Artists course offered by the Cesar E. Chavez Department of Chicanx Central American Studies (CCAS M175, also Art M184 and World Arts and Cultures M128). This course provides a historical and contemporary overview of Chicanx Latinx art production with an emphasis on painting, photography, prints, murals and activist art.
Monday, March 8, 2021
Week 10: Reflection
Something that was most memorable to me this quarter was the lecture of Week 3 where we defined the Chicana/o/x movement. Of course, the basis of the movement being influenced by the civil rights movement and beginning with the Delano grape strike was an impactful past to learn about. Yet the evolution of the term Chicana/o/x is as a way to reclaim indigeneity was not only reserved for Mexican Americans but rather Chicano is a state of mind being proud of oneself and the ties they have to multiple cultures.
The Chicana movement not being reserved for Mexican Americans was something that has never been clarified to be before at my time at UCLA and I had never heard the phrase Chicana is a state of mind. Placing the Chicanx identity as a state of mind is the pride of who one is and their ties to both latinx and American cultures is an identity that I am proud to now hold myself, I look forward to educating myself on the beautiful, tragic and revolutionary past of my Salvadorean heritage while also educating myself on how I may connect with this heritage today! Additionally, my interest in Chicana artist is something that I will continually educate myself on, specifically my artist Sienna Gonzalez, who accepts and appreciates her multiple cultural identities while still identifies as a Chicana making art for marginalized POC groups. I cannot wait to see how she will flourish and take her art to the next level creating a healing space for the Chicanas!
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Hi Charleen,
ReplyDeleteI also believe that it is important to reflect on the ChicanX movement. I remember learning about the civil rights movement in high school, but I do not remember learning about this part of it. I think it would be important to incorporate this into the history class because this is important history. I have heard the term Chicanx before, but I never really knew the true meaning of it. That is amazing that you can connect to it and its meanings.