ABSTRACTThe consequences of civil war are complex and often goes ignored. By exposing the thoughts and experiences during the critical time can lead to a better understand the aftermaths of war such as: living in poverty, dealing with grief, and desensitized by death. Thus, the essay exposes the trauma and social issues through the perspective of women in a post war society by using feminist and sociological approaches. The paper provides analysis of literature written by women who have experienced the consequences of the civil war in Central America and gives insight through their writings. Therefore, the literature used to reflect on the social and psychological effects of war and grief are, La Familia O El Olvido: Family or Oblivion, by Elena Salamanca which is compilation of poems and short stories to reveal the struggle women faces post war as it compares to “Highway Without an Ox,” by Claudia Hernandez, an article describing the extent grief can go. The purpose is to address the life after civil war to those who are neglected in society.
AbstractThe journey that many migrants take to reach the United States is filled with pain and agony. Not only must people face tough weather conditions, but there is also border patrol, hunger, dehydration, extortion, and so many factors that make the journey so life threatening. El Viaje tells the story of the journey people make in the perspective of someone making this difficult trek to reach a better life.
Religion and Revolution: The Role of Christian Base Communities (ECBs) in Community Organizing5/13/2020
AbstractSuffering under the military rule, El Salvador underwent a decade-long civil war and revolutionary struggles. A key component which led to people's mobilization is liberation theology, a theology which calls for the liberation of the poor and oppressed. Rather than telling people to endure all sufferings on earth and wait till the glory of afterlife, it emphasized upon the preferential treatment of the poor, teaching that the church must take an active stance against social injustices and stand on the side of the masses. Its teachings were materialized into the Christian Base Communities (ECBs), Catholic communities which were run by lay, ordinary folks who not only conducted bible studies, but took their messages and drew connections to their social realities, empowering everyday people to organize among themselves and believe in their power to enable social changes.
AbstractLos Años Marchitos, a novel written by Rafael Menjivar Ochoa, features an unnamed radio voice actor whose recording project has recently ended, leaving him on a bind as to how he will make a living until the next project arrives. Drawn from a presentation script written for the 2019 Annual Central American Symposium: Memory and Imaginaries of the Future, this presentation focuses on the marginalization of those in the working force at large, with specific characterization of a radio actor who is at the mercy of el calvo (the bald guy) to get by on a daily basis. The theme focuses on how one becomes a foreigner to his or her own works of art while those in privileged positions claim the credit, leaving an average audience to be entertained by a final outcome without any knowledge of original creators and those who toiled behind the scenes.
AbstractDiaspora, a dispersion of a population from a focal point to peripheral areas, is defined by Safran to hold the following characteristics: an inheritance of memories of homeland from one generation to another, a longing to return home, a feeling that one does not belong in his or her host country, and a collective memory which remains specific to an ethnic group. The concept is explored and brought to life via interview with Lorena, a migrant from El Salvador who maintains her sense of presence in her homeland through WhatsApp, enabling her to have weekly video chats with her mother back in her place of birth. This ethnography examines ways in which digital communication shapes and embodies the Salvadoran experience in the US.
AbstractMigration is a movement of people from one place to another, a movement which occurs due to multiple causes andfactors. Whether they migrate for better economic opportunities, access to education, freedom from political and/or religious persecutions, a migration from one's home country to another comes with a cost. The Salvadorans who came to the US felt a longingto stay connected to their homeland and aspired for a day to return someday. They did so by staying in touch with their loved ones and hometowns via transnational communications, starting with letters and call operators to the social media and WhatsApp today. Along with the interview, this paper examines the history of transnational communications between Salvadorans in the US and El Salvador, delving into how their use of modern-day telecommunications reflects Safran's understanding of diaspora -a retention of memories and a yearning to return home.
AbstractThe Golden Dream, directed by Diego Quemada-Diez, follows the journey that four young teens take across Mexico in hopes of reaching the United States. Quemada examines the reproductive choices for women, the role of narcos and coyotes, la bestia, and the divide amongst indigenous and ladino peoples. This film is vital to watch when it comes to establishing a better sense of the long and life risking journeys that our people have to make to reach El Norte.
AbstractThe Popol Vuh is regarded as one of the most ancient and sacred texts created by the Mayan civilization in an effort to preserve their collection of stories and history during the era of Spanish conquest. With the oppression of Mayan descendants and indigenous people being discussed in this essay, it is important to revitalize their historic heritage in order to counteract possibilities of cultural erasure. My paper goes in depth about the literary context of the Popol Vuh and explains why the preservation of the Mayan civilization’s legacy is important to Latino culture, community, and consciousness.
AbstractMoving into an unknown environment isn’t the easiest decision to make especially when there isn’t anyone to give a push to be on our feet. This struggle is mostly seen within the Immigrant community who freshly join the United States for permanent residence. Those would often feel the pull in choosing sides of Individualism vs. Community; since it is not easy carrying both cultures, especially while living in fear of being deported. Culture is a huge piece when it comes to letting anyone find their own identity, culture could also change over time which allows people to feel colonize. When another person looks and judges one’s identity, they use what they see in front of them, however, the truth is that it comes from one’s own feelings on the inside.
ABSTRACTThe Popol Vuh is one of the few pre-Contact indigenous sources of Meso-American history and mythology before the Spanish Conquest. While the historical content of the book is currently studied as a primary source to help reconstruct the history of indigenous Meso-America with an unbiased perspective, there is little examination of the various translations of the text and its influence on modern literature of Central America. I will first examine the motivations of the initial writing of the Popol Vuh and the subsequent translation of it throughout the decades since its inception. Then, I will examine the usage of the Popol Vuh in Latin American literature, with Central American authors using it to foster nationalistic pride while indigenous authors using it to foster indigenous pride in their communities.
AbstractLiterature is a big branch that covers many artists from different cultures. I myself being Mexican American have put my racial stereotypes aside and built a strong interest in Central American Literature. My analysis focuses on two great writers - Ruben Dario and Roque Dalton where I compare and contrast the different ways in which they deliver their works. The Nicaraguan poet, Ruben Dario was known to be the father of Modernismo as he wrote in a formal high class tone. Dario focuses on real life events, centering around ideas that occurred during the time era in which he wrote them. On the contrary the Salvadoran poet, Roque Dalton delivers his work with emotion and through his personal experiences. Dalton is a writer who focused more on making his pieces for himself and about himself. These two acknowledged authors are great literature figures who made a mark each in their own ways.
Abstract
Throughout my formal schooling years, I had developed a passion and a general understanding about what constitute a literature piece. Nonetheless, when I was exposed to contemporary Central American literature, I soon realized that these preconceived notions about literature did not aptly served in breaking down the meaning behind Central American creative writing. In this essay, I explore the idea of the decolonization of literature by closely examining the thematical structure of Luis De Lion’s novel, El tiempo principia en Xibalba. I suggest that De Lion’s novel is pivotal in exploring the unique linguistic contributions of indigenous languages to the Spanish spoken in Guatemala.
About the Video
Leonardo Rodriguez created this 3D map and took a video of the art piece. The video shows a representation of the migrant trail through different spaces, such as the Centers for Migrants, Mexico City, Tegucigalpa, and other common routes for migrants. NO WALL WILL STOP US
Technique: Digital drawing.
Birds pictured: Quetzal, Torogoz, and a Macaw parrot.
laura alfaro
About the Artist: Laura Alfaro is a Salvadoran studying graphic design at Los Angeles Mission College. She plans to transfer to California State University, Northridge. Artist Statement
Although my writing mainly consists of abstract, non-linear storytelling, the works I chose to submit were more grounded than usual. These works were primarily inspired by the current political climate in our nation, which prompted me to start looking into the history of exploitation in the Western hemisphere. There are still many people who are unable to speak their perspective and eventually have their story swallowed by other, more favored narratives of the colonial past. Through these short stories, I tried to focus on the internal struggles amidst the external. Everything that has the potential to affect the world, will have many different effects on different people. The more we look at things from a purely broad perspective, the more of these effects will be overlooked.
Abstract
Societal norms and culture can negatively impact people from different ethnicities. Certain cultural traditions families hold on to can cause pain to the ones they love. In my paper, I write about the unspoken rule of my family and culture. Readers from different ethnicities can relate to my work as we all experience similar situations no matter where we come from. This in-depth invitation into my daily struggles will allow my readers to cope with their emotions and to be aware of how they impact the people around them. I hope to raise awareness about these cultural traditions and to create a more open-minded society.
Abstract
The importance of women's existence is more than just being a woman. Ana Tijoux and Rebeca Lane connect through their love of music to show the world the power of feminism. With their lyrics, the audience gets an idea of what it is like to live as a woman. Lane and Tijoux are both icons of feminism that have worked hard to bring women together. They create music that travels throughout the foundations of independence and hard work. In this paper, I will compare Tijoux's "Antipatriarch" and Lane's "Lunar Woman" to showcase the ways these hip hop artists uphold the ideals of feminism because feminism is for everybody.
Artist Statement
An immigrant is defined as someone who migrates to live in a foreign country. If the United States wants to label my father a foreigner, then I am just as undeserving for a citizenship. I do not recognize my country nor the “American Dream” promised to my dad when he stepped across the border. As a matter of fact, across the border you will find the missing land of Mexico. In that case, I legally ask that you give my dad his deserving citizenship and call yourself the illegal alien, America. I write poetry to shed tears and light to the families still in the waiting room of the detention centers.
Artist StatementThe inspiration and purpose of my artwork lies behind my identity as a Brown Latina woman. It was belittling growing up in Compton, CA, a predominantly Latina/o community, because my skin always seemed to be a burden. My intersecting identities have also called for a multitude of oppression. When it comes to shedding light upon the injustices my family and I have faced as minorities, I have always struggled to use my voice. However, my poetry collection Not Welcomed highlights some of those very injustices and oppressions. I write about my personal struggle with my identity, an unlawful house raid, and about my mother’s transition from being seen as an “illegal immigrant” to becoming a naturalized citizen. Our struggles are all too similar, but what is unique is our experiences, and here are mine.
This special poetry project is brought to you by Professor Karla Cativo's class. Abstract
There have been many changes since I last visited Los Angeles. Gentrification has affected many areas and that includes MacArthur Park, Hollywood and Vine, Wilshire, East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Compton, and many other places. In this autoethnography, I reflect during my bus ride from North Hollywood the many changes that happened to the city and the ways this has impacted how I interact with the memory of Los Angeles—my childhood home.
Artist Statement
Being a Latina womyn growing up in a society that is very influential in its words and actions can be both frustrating and a beautiful experience. Most people in today’s society do not understand how impactful people of color have been by simply being true to themselves and their ancestors. And as a woman, I have seen how we attack and degrade women by simply belittling each other due to feeling threatened. Taking that into consideration, I wrote this poem for my mother, Lorena, the strongest and most kind-hearted person ever. This is dedicated to all the Latina mothers and Latina womyn… you are enough and you are life. Carry yourself through this hateful world with grace and resilience. Be the peace and intelligence that this world needs. I am a Latina womyn. I am full of purpose and purity and so are you, so are we.
ABSTRACT
In Maria del Carmen Perez’s book titled, Una Ciudad de Estatuas y Perros, I would like to explore the various short stories in which Perez invites us to imagine putting ourselves through the perspective of narratives within the post-humanistic view. The short stories that will be observed are “Album Familiar,” “Muñeca Rota,” and “Quiltografía.” Perez’s short stories challenge the idea of human individual reality by placing the reader in a position where one must think beyond rational comprehension and widen one’s capabilities to explore the existence of transcendental subjects and/or events given by characters who do not obtain humanistic elements. I argue that by broadening our capabilities to imagine other possibilities beyond our comprehension, Perez allows the readers a chance to imagine a world through alternate perspectives as a way to come to terms with real life’s impending realities. Moreover, to further demonstrate this proposition, I will be analyzing Perez’s text through the concepts of the posthuman, and other speculative philosophies.
By Clarissa Quintanilla ABSTRACT
Rafael Ochoa highlights the concept of “becoming other” in his literary text, Los Años Marchitos. It is important to note that to conceptualize becoming other, the theoretical framework of posthumanism is fundamental in this case along with the concepts by Deleuze, Braidotti, Barad, Derrida, and Agamben. In the story, the author allows readers to explore the concept of becoming other through the protagonist and various other characters. Furthermore, becoming other is also observed when migrants from Central America migrate to the United States and challenge socially fixed identities; thus, Ochoa’s ultimate goal is to invite readers to imagine themselves outside identities that are socially constructed.
Artist Statement
No matter the art form, storytelling is my passion. As a filmmaker, I point my camera toward migrant stories and the work of women artists. I believe that visibility is empowering; the role of the artist is to highlight what we cannot see before us. As a writer, the voices that compel me are the ones that begin organically, originating from raw emotion, a fleeting memory, or the collision of ideas. Storytelling is an impulse that I satisfy with the production of something tangible: a film, a poem, a short story, a painting, music, a dance, a meaningful conversation. All of it, with a side of Nicaraguan coffee. Black. No sugar. Just the flavor of mi tierra is enough.
|
