|
jueves, octubre 18, 2007 The rise of Santa Muerte (Saint Death) in the U.S.
A new article in TIME magazine explores the rise in popularity of Santa Muerte by examining "Saint Death’s" explosion in Chicago over the past decade. According to the article, Santa Muerte has a distinct look:
The personage is Mexico’s idolatrous form of the Grim Reaper: a skeleton — sometimes male, sometimes female — covered in a white, black or red cape, carrying a scythe, or a globe. Santa Muerte is nothing new. In fact, many of Mexico’s poor neighborhoods have long prayed to the Saint in the hopes of receiving a "life-saving miracle". But Mexican authorities consider Santa Muerte bad news, associating it with "prostitution, drugs, kidnappings and homicides." Furthermore, Mexico’s Catholic church considers those who worship Santa Muerte devil-worshiping cultists. Now that Santa Muerte has made its way to the U.S., American Catholic officials are not quite sure to react. So far only the Catholic archediocese in Chicago has expressed particular concern, warning followers to destroy Santa Muerte icons. However, officials in Los Angeles, New York, and Houston—cities which have experienced a similar Santa Muerte uprising—have remained quiet. Here’s a summary of Santa Muerte’s rise to prominence in the U.S., from TIME: Santa Muerte began appearing in U.S. neighborhoods with large Mexican populations only in the last decade. Walk down 26th street here in Little Village, one of Chicago’s largest Mexican neighborhoods, and notice the tiny shops, or botanicas, selling statues, candles and palm-sized prayer cards bearing Santa Muerte’s image. Notice references to Santa Muerte in Spanish-language newspapers. Young Mexican-American men are marking their bodies with Santa Muerte tattoos to prove their devotion. Middle-class, suburban-bred Mexican-Americans are snapping up black tee-shirts bearing Santa Muerte’s image to reconnect with what they perceive to be part of their heritage. Last weekend, a Chicago art gallery opened an exhibit showcasing images from Tepito — with Santa Muerte figuring prominently. And Santa Muerte may gain even more credibility: the famed Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal narrates Saint Death, a new documentary about the phenomenon. Comment: Is worshipping Santa Muerte a sacrilege or no different that praying to any other saint? Is the saint’s rise in popularity just a trend, or is it here to stay? Tell us what you think by posting a blog comment. Read the complete TIME article here. Escrito Por Cristina Noriega a las 08:04 AM| 0 Comentarios martes, octubre 16, 2007 Tequila growing in popularity in the U.S.
IIt should come as no surprise that in in the U.S., the margarita ranks number one in the tequila beverage category. But according to an article in CNN Money, other tequila concoctions are gaining on the legenday lime-flavored drink.
For example, Hornitos brand tequila has introduced premium tequilas to the mix, adding Hornitos(TM) Plata and Hornitos(TM) Anejo to its original Hornitos(TM) Reposado. There’s something for all tequila fans, from the shot drinkers to the smooth sippers, to course those who prefer the taste mixed into their margarita. According to the article: The legendary tequila category has grown enormously in recent years in response to consumer thirst for new and exciting cocktail experiences with a forecasted sales increase of more than 37 percent from 2006 to 2011(2). While tequila shares the unique artisanal and handcrafted qualities that some other beverages do, such as vodka, wine and micro-brewed beers, it offers something others don’t -- an alluring "edge" that satisfies the need for a little bit of fun, a dash of adventure, a civilized taste of the wild side -- whether at home, or out with friends. Once strictly considered a party drink--who doesn't have a tequila shot memory they'd soon like to forget--it's nice to see that consumers are appreciating the variety of tequilas Mexico has to offer. The good news is that there's a flavor and variety to suit any budget or taste. Want to know more about Mexico’s national drink, including where it originated, how it’s made, and how it differs from meszcal? Click here to visit itequila.org, a comprehensive site that tells you everything you need to know. Escrito Por Cristina Noriega a las 11:11 AM| 0 Comentarios lunes, octubre 15, 2007 Raza clothing makes a cultural statement
Robert Montalvo, a 35-year-old Mexican-American from Michigan, has never been to Mexico. Nevertheless, the founder of Raza Clothing ("Race" in Spanish) wears his cultural heritage as a badge of honor, designing clothes that truly make a statement.
His colorful t-shirts care adorned with images of the Aztec sun god, Day of the Dead calaveras, and other images that all glorify Mexico's indigenous roots. Those who wear Raza clothes and accessories are thus not only displaying genuine art, but also telling a story. According to an article in the Detroit Free Press: It's not just Mexican-Americans who are buying up Montalvo's designs. The bold colors and graphics are popular with skaters, appealing to "the hip-hoppers" and "to sneakerheads in 13 states and Japan".   Escrito Por Cristina Noriega a las 08:34 AM| 5 Comentarios viernes, octubre 12, 2007 Azteca America announces lineup of premiers and stars for Sunday, October 14A Hispanic PR-Wire press release announced the line-up of Latino stars set to be featured on Azteca América this Sunday: -“¿Quién Tiene Estrella? La Nueva Academia”, a two-hour musical talent show, with premier this Sunday, October 14. Hosted by Mexican host Omar Fierro, the show is taped live from Mexico City every week and features singers, dancers, and composers all vying for a grand prize of $100,000. This year will include participants from the U.S. as well. -The 8th Annual El Premio de la Gente awards begins its voting season with the one-hour special “Los Nominados de la Gente”, hosted by Daisy Fuentes. Viewers have a month (October 14- November 14) to vote online for their favorite music and sports celebrities by on logging onto www.ElPremio.tv. Celebrities appearing include: Maná, Shakira, Paulina Rubio, Andrea Bocelli, Alex Rodríguez, Lorena Ochoa (Golf), Manu Ginobili, Yuridia, Alex Rodríguez (Bésibol), Hugo Sánchez, José Feliciano, Marco Antonio Solís, Sammy Sosa and Calle 13. Read about the network’s million-dollar prize for "Gol Millionario" here. Escrito Por Cristina Noriega a las 07:50 AM| 0 Comentarios jueves, octubre 11, 2007 Paulina Rubio in hot water with Mexican governmentWhen Paulina Rubio posed for a Spanish-language edition of Cosmopolitan in Español wearing nothing but her home country's flag, she did not realize she may have been committing a crime. According to an article in the Canadian Press, the Mexican government is currently investigating whether or not Rubio desecrated the country's flag when she posed with said flag: Mexico's Interior Department said Wednesday the photos may have violated an article in the National Flag, Shield and Anthem Law, which states "private individuals will give the appropriate respect to the national symbol and handle it with care." Lucky for Rubio, the pop princess could be let off the hook if the flag she posed with was a fake. Or, since the photo was only published in Spain, and not in Mexican territory, the law may not even apply. Otherwise, Rubio may have to cough up $4,500 in fines. Tell us: Did Paulina Rubio do anything wrong when she posed wearing the Mexican flag and nothing else? Why or why not? Post a blog comment and let us know what you think.
Escrito Por Cristina Noriega a las 08:40 AM| 2 Comentarios miércoles, octubre 10, 2007 Photography exhibit features black Mexicans, breaks stereotypes
American-born photographer Tony Gleaton has blue eyes and fair skin. He is not biracial; in fact, both his parents are black. But because of his unique look, Gleaton has dealt with questions his entire life.
There is no doubt that such as life has influenced the art he creates. According to a recent LA Times article: It’s not surprising, perhaps, that Gleaton has made his reputation with a series of portraits of black Mexicans, descendants of slaves brought to Mexico by the Spanish conquistadors 500 years ago, "before the first black slaves came to Colonial Williamsburg," he pointed out. Gleaton believes that race is a construct, and uses his art form to foster dialogue and break stereotypes: "What’s important about these photographs is that they gave a face to something that nobody had really thought about before. And it’s a place to begin the discussion about what we suppose Mexico to be. We have a stereotypical view of what Mexico is, and Mexico is many things. You can have freckles and red hair and be Mexican -- and you can have very black skin and be Mexican." Gleaton’s series "Africa’s Legacy in Mexico" is on display at Loyola Marymount University’s Laband Art Gallery until November 18.  © 1990 Tony Gleaton Abrazo De La Memoria / “Embrace Of Memory,” Cuajinicuilapa, Guerrero, Mexico Escrito Por Cristina Noriega a las 09:36 PM| 0 Comentarios martes, octubre 09, 2007 Quieres Taco Bell...in Mexico?
15 years after Taco Bell closed shop in Mexico, it’s back. And this time, it’s got a new approach.
An AP article describes the chain’s strategy to brand Taco Bell as more American, instead of trying to "compete with the sacred" (the revered fresh tacos that Mexico is known for): The company’s branding strategy — "Taco Bell is something else" — is an attempt to distance itself from any comparison to Mexico’s beloved taquerias, which sell traditional corn tortillas stuffed with an endless variety of fillings, from spicy beef to corn fungus and cow eyes. Other twists? Tacos are now "Tacostadas"--yes, that name is completely made up--and french fries and soft-serve ice cream are now on the menu. Pop culture historian Carlos Mosivais has a theory as to why Taco Bell is relaunching after failing miserably in ’92: "Taco Bell wants to take advantage of the perception that if something comes from the United States, it tastes better, that a country that has been Americanized is willing to Americanize food that is central to its cuisine...It is an absurd idea, and given that it’s so absurd, it may just be successful in upper-class areas." More reason to try again? In the past 15 years, a lot has changed. American chains like Chili’s, KFC, and Starbucks have thrived. And now, Taco Bell is ready to claim its share of the pie. So far they’ve opened a couple stores in Monterrey, with plans to eventually expand to 300. But the reviews thus far have been mixed at best, ranging from confusion over the menu, to outright dissatisfaction: "Something is lacking here," said one customer..."Maybe the food shouldn’t come with french fries." Do you think the second time will be a charm for Taco Bell? Or is the company making a huge mistake? Tell us what you think by posting a blog comment. Escrito Por Cristina Noriega a las 02:00 PM| 0 Comentarios lunes, octubre 08, 2007 Famed Mexican ceramic artists exhibiting work in Britain
Two of Mexico’s finest ceramic artists, Tiburcio Soteno and his son Israel Soteno, are having an exhibit at Britain’s Museum of Lancashire. Part of the exhibit includes a documentary, called El Canto de Lancashire, which tracks the six weeks the artists spent in Melling, near Lancaster, teaching workshops.
Tiburcio was born into a family of important ceramic artists, and taught his son Israel the art. They specialize in creating elaborate "Arboles de Vida" or "Trees of Life". The following image from VivaMexico.com shows the artists with some some of their work--including a tree of life in the background.  According to an article in the Lancashire Evening Post, the exhibit, running through January 26, "aims to capture the ’vibrancy and vitality’ of Mexican culture through works by its artists and craftspeople." Here is another one of Tiburcio’s masterpieces: 
Escrito Por Cristina Noriega a las 12:43 PM| 2 Comentarios viernes, octubre 05, 2007 Call for entries: show us your mural pics
By now, you may have noticed that our arts & culture blog is a little biased towards murals.
Perhaps it’s because the nature of murals requires teamwork, people working together towards a common goal-- something MATT.org is pretty fond of. Or perhaps it’s because of their startling diversity. One can find a masterpiece by an unknown signpainter in the image of a woman making tortillas on the side of a little taqueria. Or, a visit to the grand Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City is rewarded by the glorious splendor of the intricate, symbolic piece "Glorious Victory" by famed Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. Maybe it’s because by their very nature, murals are made for the public. They are not isolated works trapped in museums, but instead vibrant pieces of the communities they occupy. The best ones not only beautify, but also tell us something about the people and places that created and inspired them. That’s why we need you help. Send your mural pics to us at cristina@matt.org, along with a brief description of where they are located and why they are important to you. We’ll be posting these images periodically for the entire MATT community to enjoy. Escrito Por Cristina Noriega a las 09:08 AM| 0 Comentarios jueves, octubre 04, 2007 Video of the day: watch the trailer for "Trade""Trade", which hit theaters last week in limited release, is a new movie that explores the story of a 13-year-old Mexican girl who is kidnapped in a drug trade. Here is the synopsis, from the film’s official web site: When 13-year-old Adriana (Paulina Gaitan) is kidnapped by sex traffickers in Mexico City, her 17-year-old brother, Jorge (Cesar Ramos), sets off on a desperate mission to save her. Trapped by an underground network of international thugs who earn millions exploiting their human cargo, Adriana’s only friend throughout her ordeal is Veronica (Alicja Bachleda), a young Polish woman captured by the same criminal gang. As Jorge dodges overwhelming obstacles to track the girl’s abductors, he meets Ray (Kevin Kline), a Texas cop whose own family loss leads him to become an ally. From the barrios of Mexico City and the treacherous Rio Grande border, to a secret internet sex slave auction and a tense confrontation at a stash house in suburban New Jersey, Ray and Jorge forge a close bond as they frantically pursue Adriana’s kidnappers before she is sold and disappears into a brutal underworld from which few victims ever return. Inspired by Peter Landesman’s chilling NY Times Magazine story on the U.S. sex trade, "The Girls Next Door," TRADE is a thrilling story of courage and a devastating expose of one of the world’s most heinous crimes. The American debut of Marco Kreuzpaintner, one of Germany’s leading young directors, TRADE is produced by Roland Emmerich and Rosilyn Heller from a screenplay by Academy Award(R) nominee Jose Rivera (THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES). Does "Trade" offer a realistic view of drug trade? Or does it enforce stereotypes? Tell us what you think by posting a comment.throughout her ordeal is Veronica (Alicja Bachleda), a young Polish woman captured by the same criminal gang. As Jorge dodges overwhelming obstacles to track the girl’s abductors, he meets Ray (Kevin Kline), a Texas cop whose own family loss leads him to become an ally. From the barrios of Mexico City and the treacherous Rio Grande border, to a secret internet sex slave auction and a tense confrontation at a stash house in suburban New Jersey, Ray and Jorge forge a close bond as they frantically pursue Adriana’s kidnappers before she is sold and disappears into a brutal underworld from which few victims ever return. Inspired by Peter Landesman’s chilling NY Times Magazine story on the U.S. sex trade, "The Girls Next Door," TRADE is a thrilling story of courage and a devastating expose of one of the world’s most heinous crimes. The American debut of Marco Kreuzpaintner, one of Germany’s leading young directors, TRADE is produced by Roland Emmerich and Rosilyn Heller from a screenplay by Academy Award(R) nominee Jose Rivera (THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES). Does "Trade" offer a realistic view of drug trade? Or does it enforce stereotypes? Tell us what you think by posting a comment. href="http://www.tradethemovie.com/"> "Trade", which hit theaters last week in limited release, is a new movie that explores the story of a 13-year-old Mexican girl who is kidnapped in a drug trade. Here is the synopsis, from the film’s official web site: When 13-year-old Adriana (Paulina Gaitan) is kidnapped by sex traffickers in Mexico City, her 17-year-old brother, Jorge (Cesar Ramos), sets off on a desperate mission to save her. Trapped by an underground network of international thugs who earn millions exploiting their human cargo, Adriana’s only friend throughout her ordeal is Veronica (Alicja Bachleda), a young Polish woman captured by the same criminal gang. As Jorge dodges overwhelming obstacles to track the girl’s abductors, he meets Ray (Kevin Kline), a Texas cop whose own family loss leads him to become an ally. From the barrios of Mexico City and the treacherous Rio Grande border, to a secret internet sex slave auction and a tense confrontation at a stash house in suburban New Jersey, Ray and Jorge forge a close bond as they frantically pursue Adriana’s kidnappers before she is sold and disappears into a brutal underworld from which few victims ever return. Inspired by Peter Landesman’s chilling NY Times Magazine story on the U.S. sex trade, "The Girls Next Door," TRADE is a thrilling story of courage and a devastating expose of one of the world’s most heinous crimes. The American debut of Marco Kreuzpaintner, one of Germany’s leading young directors, TRADE is produced by Roland Emmerich and Rosilyn Heller from a screenplay by Academy Award(R) nominee Jose Rivera (THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES). Does "Trade" offer a realistic view of drug trade? Or does it enforce stereotypes? Tell us what you think by posting a comment. Escrito Por Cristina Noriega a las 09:06 AM| 0 Comentarios |
Participa con tu donativo en la campaña mediática de inmigración de MATT.org
Ayudemos a mejorar la percepción que Estados Unidos tiene de los inmigrantes. Ellos son el motor de nuestra economía y mejoran el bienestar de todos nosotros.
Nuestra campaña de toma de conciencia promueve las grandes contribuciones que hacen los mexicanos y el país de México hacia la prosperidad de Estados Unidos y las Américas. Al contribuir a nuestra campaña, ayudarás a contrarrestar la imagen negativa que, desde diferentes ángluos, enfrenta la comunidad inmigrante en Estados Unidos.
Hemos demostrado que nuestro mensaje será bien recibido por la mayoría de los estadounidenses. Ahora debemos finalizar y lanzar esta campaña de interés general en televisión, al igual que una fuerte campaña de acción entre las masas, para hacer entender al pueblo estadounidense que los trabajadores inmigrantes son buenos para el país, y que todos podemos beneficiarnos si los legalizamos.
Puedes contribuir con $25, $50, $100, o cualquier otra cantidad. Ningún donativo será demasiado o demasiado poco. Cada centavo marca la diferencia. Tus donativos ayudarán a que se difunda este mensaje y a que todo el país tome acción.
El cambio empieza ahora. Y empieza contigo.
