Santillan Olmos, Crystal (Week 7: Claudia Zapata)

This week’s article Chicanx Graphics in the Digital Age by Claudia Zapata was significantly interesting to me because I always used to consider Chicana art only as impactful through canvas and physical originals. However, Zapata dives into various ways Chicanas and other artists have been able to get their artwork out to the public digitally as well as how digital art has been especially impactful in social movements. 

Some points I found interesting were how digital artwork has been able to reach more audience across the world with the internet, allowing more support and discussion in the world of art and social movements. 

One key social movement that we see digital art being helpful in would be the Black Lives Matter movement. Zapata mentions the tragic death of Aiyana Jones after being shot by a SWAT member once their family’s home was raided. This case was spread publicly, where we see digital art being useful (below) to spread the young girl’s face and awareness about police brutality. 

The thing about digital art is that it does not have to be as beautiful or as detailed as an actual canvas. It can be as simple as an outline, or color palette with a statement that can make big changes in movements. It is also seen to be helpful to those that are not artistic at all and still want to spread art as resistance. Once an artist makes their artwork shareable, the public may print it to spread awareness about an issue. And if enough people do this, then it brings in hope for the art world and for the public. 

One topic I read upon that I still question however, is the new methods of printing papel picado. Zapata mentions printing machines that are able to cut up to 6 pieces of papel picado. The only question I would have for these methods of printing papel picado, does it take away any cultural value or traditional importance from making it from hand?