Week 10: Reflection

 Wow this quarter has flown by! Week 1 feels like yesterday. I had never taken a Chicanx class before this one, which is pretty ridiculous considering I’ve grown up in Los Angeles and have been surrounded by Chicanx culture from a very young age. This class has brought me so much knowledge and much more of an appreciation for the culture as well. Before taking this class, whenever I thought about Chicano culture my mind always went to low riders, gang culture, tattoos, etc. That’s what I thought the word “Chicano” meant. However, after taking this class I have a much better understanding of what the word means. The struggle that Chicanx’s have to go through to claim and maintain their indigenous heritage outside of Western Eurocentric intervention is nothing less than inspirational.

 

In addition, another moment that really inspired me in this class was reading Yolanda Lopez’s book. Her Virgen De Guadalupe series where she uplifts herself, her mother, and her grandma was extremely progressive and a total power woman move. Her depictions of la Virgen de Guadalupe, despite how controversial they may be, really shows how much of an impact Chicana women are making within the art scene.

 

In conclusion, this class has been nothing but amazing in my eyes. I’ve gained much more of an appreciation for the culture that I am constantly surrounded by, as well as I have found some very inspirational Chicana women to continue learning about in the future. Thank you Profesora for the amazing quarter!