Week III: Máscaras

 

Graciela Iturbide

Leer: Octavio Paz, El laberinto de la soledad, capitulo 2: Máscaras mexicanas.
I could see from the good--and engaged--conversación last night that you can get into Don Octavio (even when you disagree!)  I want you to read carefully, and make notes on points you want to cite. Your comments need to be grounded in the text--and your questions/comments can also figure on your blog.We'll use México Profundo as a balance--soon!

Reread the section in first chapter on "norteamericanos" y mexicanos. Make your oppositions chart. You need to know what he says--and think about how it fits with ALL of our experiences...

Projecto: Máscaras. Las primeras dos semanas, me parece, han servido como celebracíon de familia, de lugar, del pasado. Corazón y recuerdo. This week I want us to broaden the scope--that is, to consider a wider range of feelings. Reading don Octavio, you'll see he talks about this using the word "máscaras"--both literally, and in an insightful figurative sense. It's this relationship I want you to explore in your visual projects. Pueden además citar versos encontardos en las canciones en que vemos esto mismo? O ejemplos de tu propia vida? A publicar los en los caudernos...
Máscaras: Lo psicológico... The psychological complexity here is what's important. Hay caras múltiples a una máscara... Mascarea y rostro... Caras y Méascaras. (La cara figura en la máscara...)

Cuadernos:  Qué se den cuenta: Publicar fotos de tus obras cada semana. I usually take a look at the blogs on Thursday mid-day--so keep them up to date. You can discover whether posting your project in advance of class works--or after. Both are okay--but I expect you to make a post each week. Include your writing, too--plus your questions from a close reading of don Octavio... which will also figure in our conversations...

Canciones.  A veces una canción en particular presente el tema de que se trata. Quizás por esta semana sea Paloma negra... de Tomás Méndez Sosa. Aquí tienen tres versiones:

TOMÁS MÉNDEZ canta "PALOMA NEGRA" - YouTube 
(el compositor)
LOLA BELTRAN: PALOMA NEGRA - YouTube
Chavela Vargas-Paloma negra - YouTube
y Lila Downs, mas recién:
▶ Lila Downs canta Paloma negra - YouTube 

y Lola Beltran Sufriendo a solas:
Lola Beltran en Bellas Artes -SUFRIENDO A SOLAS-, 1990..VOB - YouTube

Keep listening to the cancionero! Cantamos mas en la próxima!