Brannum
Latin America 102
Cultural Exploration #2
Culture is what a group of people believe is the way of life and the standard set by their
descendants to follow and pass on to their kids.
Choose one painting from the websites listed in Discussion, question #2, that
demonstrates elements of Mexicanidad. Identify the title, year, and theme of the
painting, and paste it into your paper. Describe how Frida or Rivera expresses
cultural elements, Mexican heritage and/or political implications in their art? How
does it reflect or relate to the “maelstrom of revolution and culture” that
encompassed the first half of 20thcentury Mexico?
“The Zapotec and Mixtec Civilization.” 1945 by Diego Rivera. This painting shows
that the Zapotec and Mixtec people using several resources from Mexico to make unique
items that are very much a large part of their culture. In 1922 Diego Rivera decided to
paint art that would help restore pride in Mexico. Rivera painted many paintings with
Amerindian ancestor peasants tilling fields, working with precious metals, and wearing
their unique items that they make. By the act of Rivera painting Murals with Mexico’s
history in them, it helped many people in Mexico learn about their ancestors and,
therefore, influenced them to pass down this culture to their children.
This particular painting relates to the “maelstrom of revolution and culture” of part of the