5C

MoLAA stands for Museum of Latin American Art. In visiting this site, I was able to open my eyes to another world. I was able to gain and grasp a better understanding of a new culture and Provence. Many of the artwork ha helped to better explain the times and traditions of Latin America.
Claudio Gallina: Between memory and Oblivion.
http://www.molaa.org/index.aspx
I really enjoyed this piece of art because of the descriptiveness in the art work. I enjoyed the children playing, childhood games. It reminds of the previous days, and how we often enjoy going back in time in our minds. The title of the art reminded me of Latin America and the earlier days, before of the havoc. Children playing in the streets before they was too much crime. Lastly the art piece reminds me how each area in this wonderful world has its own unique way of depicting their lifestyle.
The art work seems to be some time of charcoal, black and white drawing.There are children in the art work, playing childhood games.
The artwork is about memories and how oblivious we can be at certain ages. I took as if, when were are children, we are oblivious to the issues in the world.
I decided on this piece of work, because I liked the color scheme and the children playing. I feel that childhood is the essence of life. Everything, for the most part is enjoyable when your a child.
I would love to view more work done with this artist. Their technique is beautiful. I wonder if they work primarily in black in white?

5b

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=Slavery+Art+Paintings&page=1&qsrc=6&ab=2&u=http%3A%2F%2Ffineartamerica.com%2Fpaintings%2Ftag%2Famerican%2Bslavery

I came across this piece of art while researching the life of the early slaves. Slaves used music as a way to keep them motivated as well as pass the time. Music was extremely important for slaves in terms of motivation. It kept their spirits high and gave the slaves something of a Hobie, to do.

The subject of the art work is "The Jazz Player" The piece of art depicts a man playing the trumpet. He is probably from the early 1900's. The man looks to e enjoying himself. The piece seems to be created using some sort of paint.

The artwork seems to be about to life of jazz.

I chose this work of art because I love music. I think music makes a person feel good inside, and it also helps to pass the time. Music can tell a lot about a persons personality, and bring out their unique side. This piece makes me vision a nightclub with this jazz player, playing inside it. Everyone dancing and enjoying themselves, letting themselves go.

I would curious to know how influential jazz was during slavery days. I know many slaves attending secret music sessions, but were they able to play their own instruments?

5 A

The Independence movement in Latin America, which had been simmering since the United States broke away from Great Britain in 1776, came to a boil around 1810. Spain’s Empire in the New World crumbled, and by 1825 all that remained were a few islands in the Caribbean. This passionate, violent era in the history of Latin America is particularly fascinating.

I chose to research the topic of slavery because it is something that is near and dear to my heart. I feel as if we are not taught enough about it in school, however, it is a great part of our American history. Many people’s lives changed during the slavery days, and I believe people need to be informed.

The slave trade in Africa existed for thousands of years. The first main route passed through the Sahara, tying in to the Arab slave trade. After the European Age of Exploration, African slaves became part of the Atlantic slave trade, from which comes the modern, Western conception of slavery as an institution of African-descended slaves and non-African slave owners. Despite its illegality, slavery continues in some parts of the world, including Africa.
There is adequate evidence citing case after case of African control of segments of the trade. Several African nations such as the Ashanti of Ghana and the Yoruba of Nigeria had economies largely depending on the trade. African peoples such as the Imbangala of Angola and the Nyamwezi of Tanzania would serve as intermediaries or roving bands warring with other African nations to capture.
Slavery, as it is often referred to by people, in African cultures was generally more like indentured servitude: "slaves" were not made to be chattel of other men, nor enslaved for life. African "slaves" were paid wages and were able to accumulate property. They often bought their own freedom and could then achieve social promotion
http://en.wikipedia.org/(some what credible site, sometime info is not accurate)

4c

Culture is a learned way of life shared by a group of people, includes languages, food, celebrations, artistic expression, the arts, sports, government, and the media. We all have a certain culture we come from whether we think about it or not. I believe culture is extremely important in helping to mold a person, and also aids in bringing out the uniqueness of a person. Culture fits in well with this class, because just like stated before with each individual person, a country or continent or even region, has it’s own culture also.

I looked at Kelsey’s assignment 4a first. She like I chose to do her work on the California mission. I think we both chose the California missions because of the unique connections to Latin America, and all of the great things these mission have done for our region. She like I chose to focus on the San Francisco mission, mainly with it being so close to home, as well as one of the last missions. San Francisco is also the last mission to be created after the Mexican independence, and without a church’s approval.

For assignment 3a I focused on Jasmine’s work. Jasmine chose to do her research on the Yanomamo Tribe because in the past she has watched a documentary on the tribe in a Cultural Anthropology class. She found their ways of life very interesting, especially since they are a fairly new discovered tribe. Jasmine wanted to expand her knowledge further and be able to share it with her classmates. A remarkable fact about the Yanomamo tribe is that they have managed to retain their native pattern of warfare and political integrity without interference from the outside world. They live in a remote and isolated corner of the Amazon between Brazil and Venezuela and are the last indigenous group to have contact with the modern world. A large and important part of a male Yanomami's life is a ritual of smoking a hallucinogenic drug called yopo. Grinding several natural roots and vines that are gathered in the rain forest makes Yopo. Smoking the drug is very painful, causing blinding pains in the head and nausea. In order to not feel all of this pain, voluntarily, another person forcibly blows the yopo into the nasal cavities by using a long pipe like object. The yopo is taken in order to achieve a trance state. Once in the trance, the men are able to communicate with the spirit world and relate what they are seeing through chanting and dancing.

We could possibly relate Freire to this topic, because all of the research we have done, is in this great man’s element. He has visited these regions and become one with these people. All of the words we were asked to define are words that make up a person as well as the region of Latin America.

4B

El Cantico Del Alba : http://www.ask.com/bar?q=california+missions&page=1&qsrc=178&ab=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.californiamissions.com%2F

I chose this piece of music, which could also be considered a poem, because it was one of the unique works of art that was produce in the missions over two- hundred years ago. I thought the music was very unique to the folk music we have today. The music was soft and peaceful; it in many ways took me back to the times of the early missions.

The piece of music seems to have some folk element to it. The music is soft, but quick and up lifting. There are no strong drum sounds or anything over bearing. It seems as if some two hundred years ago, all of the tempos were up beat and jubilant. The song seems to be a hymn, maybe something played at a festival, parade or even in church.

When I heard this song, I immediately pictured small children dancing around while a group of a few people played this song for them.

I chose a piece of music, because I love music, and I feel it speaks to people often easier than a poem or a story; I enjoy all types of music. This piece made me smile, it made me picture our early Californians dancing around, enjoying life.

I would love to see some clips of people some two-hundred years ago enjoying themselves while listening to this folk music. It is always a pleasure to see people having a good time. I am also curious to know, whom the creators of music were back then? Did everyone create music, was it just men? Finally I would be curious to learn more about what the people of the mission did to enjoy themselves, even though it seems music was one of the many things.

4A

The Colonial Era in Latin America should be considered the region’s formative years: the norms, laws, conflicts and movements of the time were profoundly influential in determining the character of the area today. The Spanish are only the most famous of the European powers that fought over territories and colonies, but the Portuguese, British, Dutch, French and others were also involved.

Twenty-first MissionFounded: July 4, 1823 by Father Jose AltimiraNamed for: St. Francis Solano, missionary to the Peruvian IndiansLocation: in the town of Sonoma, 20 miles north of San Francisco on State Highway 12

The last and northernmost California mission, Mission San Francisco Solano was the only mission founded after Mexico's independence from Spain. It was also the only mission founded without the prior approval of the Church.The brash Father Jose Altimira, sent from Spain in 1819 to assist at Mission Dolores, devised a plan to found a new mission to the north where the climate was warmer. Instead of going to his proper church superiors he made his proposal to Governor Don Luis Arguello, who was responsible for keeping the Russians out of Northern California. Fr. Altimira's plan to move both the Dolores and the San Rafael missions to Solano seemed to be the solution to the Governor's concern about the Russian encroachment in his province.Eventually the Church gave their approval for the new Mission San Francisco Solano, to be run by Father Altimira, but insisted that Missions Dolores and San Rafael be undisturbed.

The new mission seemed to get off to a good start. The vineyards were flourishing. But soon the cruelty of Father Altimira became evident. His constant flogging and imprisonment of the Native Americans, in his efforts to "civilize" them soon caused a revolt. A large group of angry Native Americans attacked the mission in 1826. After looting and burning buildings and supplies, they forced Father Altimira to flee to Mission San Rafael. Soon after that, unwelcome at any of the missions, he returned to Spain.
His replacement was the faithful and kind Father Fortuni. After spending several years rebuilding the mission he restored it to its former strength. His new adobe buildings had tile roofs, and a convento with 27 rooms made up a large part of the quadrangle.Barely finished, the mission was secularized in 1834 and came under the control of General Mariano Vallejo. He was supposed to see that the mission properties were distributed to the Native Americans. Instead he claimed the mission property to be his own and added it to his already vast property holdings in the area. With the promise of protection, room and board, he put the Native Americans to work for him.

Vallejo built up a large pueblo (town) in Sonoma, and for a while maintained the mission church. Eventually, the settlers removed the roof tiles and timbers for use in their own buildings and the mission's adobe walls began to dissolve. A new adobe church was built for the parish at the same site of the original mission church.

I decided to research the missions of California, because I have always had some interest in them. I remember helping the students in our after school program, work on their 5th grade mission assignment, and finding it extremely interesting. I decided to look at the 21st mission, because it is closest to my home, and intrigued me; Who would not to learn about the civilization of their state. How certain cities got their name, and what all went into forming these great cities that make up California.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_missions_in_California
missions.bgmm.com
You tube: Spanish Missions
www.californiamissions.com

3c

In one of Matthew's first comments, he mentioned Freire's passion for teaching those who were not educated. I could not imagine living a life not being educated, not being to read nor write. I don't think people realize how profound the ability to read and write is. To be able to read a simple sign or vote in an election. What Freire did for many many people is profound in my book. He opened up doors for so many people; giving them another chance at life, and the ability to achieve something.

In the second part of Matthew's second half of his comments, it was also mentioned how humble Freire was. I think it is more than important to have lived and struggled a little; to better understand the lives of those who you are trying to touch. Freire was an extremely humble individual who learned early on what it meant to be homeless and without a lot. I think living a hard life, makes one strong.

Studying Freire has helped me tremendously. It has allowed me to better connect to the world of Latin America, and everything that region of our world brings to the table. It is always educational to look at a regions past before you attempt to understand their furute. We are always taught about the great people of our nation; however, I think it is just as important to focus on their influential people of other great areas.