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WEEK 13: REFLECTION

After taking the feedback from week 12 and applying it to my essay, I managed to fix the punctuation and grammar errors, and shorten the essay by around 400-500 words by carefully removing unnecessary information. I also fixed some citations within the text so I only had direct quotes to support certain arguments or interpretations. Lastly, I properly formatted the photos/figures by adding titles and references below the image. Overall, refining the essay seemed a bit extensive but it really improved the quality of the writing.

Furthermore, I ended up changing some quotes/citations and references I had planned to use during previous weeks, as I had to cut down on a lot of information. I also felt that having too many quotes and references would convolute the essay, and take away from my own presentation of ideas.

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Week 12: Essay Feedback

For the current version of my essay in week 11 and 12 which was almost ready for final editing and proofreading, I got feedback from Studiosity.

FEEDBACK SUMMARY

-Adding more clarity to certain words/sentences

-Use words more appropriate to the context

-Avoid repetition of words

-Fix missing words or phrases

-Rework fragmented sentences

-Add definite/indefinite articles to sentences (the, an etc.)

-Fix comma usage (add or remove certain commas)

To improve my essay, I will take this feedback into account and proofread more attentively. Another aspect of the essay I will improve is the word count. My essay was around 1900 words when I submitted it for feedback, so to fix this I will need to think critically about what information is crucial, and what can easily be replaced without changing the course of the body paragraphs. Making the essay cohesive would require shortening many sentences and removing unnecessary words/sentences. 

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Week 9: Essay Main Points and Quotes

SECTION 1: The Symbolisation of Mexicanidad in Frida Kahlo’s Paintings Created Between 1932 and 1937.

-This section will focus on how Frida Kahlo used symbolisation in her paintings to represent Mexicanidad. I will use her painting ‘Self Portrait Along the Border Line Between Mexico and the United States’ (1932) as an example to explore this, while also discussing the effects and potential reactions from the audience.

Image & Interpretation: Self Portrait Along the Border Line Between Mexico and the United States, 1932. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8th, 2022, from https://www.fridakahlo.org/self-portrait-along-the-boarder-line.jsp

“Frida Kahlo’s intellectual and artistic interests hinged on examining her personal experiences and asserting her own identity. She wanted to return to Mexico, where her sense of self was rooted.”

Google Arts and Culture. (n.d.). Self Portrait Along the Border Line Between Mexico and the United States, 1932. https://artsandculture.google.com/story/self-portrait-on-the-borderline-between-mexico-and-the-united-states-1932/-QLCA772QViFIg

SECTION 2: How Feminist Topics are Depicted in Frida Kahlo’s Works Created Between 1932 and 1937

-This section will focus on Frida Kahlo’s openly feminist views and how they were portrayed in her works. I will use her painting ‘Henry Ford Hospital’ (1932) as an example as it focuses on miscarriages, a ‘taboo’ topic. Lastly, I will also include an almost opposing opinion that implies that Kahlo’s feminist views have been commodified in the 21st century.

Image & Interpretation: Henry Ford Hospital, 1932 by Frida Kahlo. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4th, 2022. https://www.fridakahlo.org/henry-ford-hospital.jsp

“The two groups most likely to bring suit were elite men and working-class women—two groups for whom their public reputation was central to the way they lived and worked.“

Nicole Sanders. (2011). Gender and Honor in Mexican History: Liberalism and Revolution in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Mexico. Mexican Studies/Estudios Mexicanos. 27(1):207-223. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/msem.2011.27.1.207

“While Van Gogh is revered for his misunderstood genius and Picasso for his innovation, Kahlo seems stuck with being praised for wearing a bold lip and not shaving. Surface level reverence proves dangerous in a time where "girl power" is so obviously being used as a marketing tool.”

Ayoola Solarin. (2018, June 11). Frida Kahlo is not your symbol. Dazed. https://www.dazeddigital.com/art-photography/article/40259/1/frida-kahlo-is-not-your-symbol

SECTION 3: Political Messages in Frida Kahlo’s Paintings Between 1932 to 1937 and How this Compares to Design Practices

-This section will focus on how Frida Kahlo’s radical left political views (socialism, communism) was represented in her works, and how this depiction in fine arts compares to radical left politics in design practices (Dadaism e.g.). There will also be a second opinion which discusses how some artists stay political while others don’t, regardless of interpretation.

Image & Context:  Dada. (2022, April 11). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dada

“In the last years of life, her paintings reflected messages in favor of Marxism and Stalinism, which she hoped would inspire a similar state of nationalism and unity in her beloved home country.”

Isabella Gomez Sarmiento. (2018, January 26). Frida Kahlo: Radical Artist, Political Activist, Icon. Teen Vogue. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/frida-kahlo-radical-artist-political-activist-icon

“You have to approach something with an indifference, as if you had no aesthetic emotion. The choice of readymades is always based on visual indifference and, at the same time, on the total absence of good or bad taste.”

Paul Trachtman. (2006, May). A Brief History of Dada. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/dada-115169154/

“...Contemporary political art risks preaching to an audience comprised of a small, well-educated liberal elite that is already aligned with its message.”

Michael Govan. (2018, March 28). Is art for pleasure or politics? CNN Style. https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/intelligence-squared-is-art-for-pleasure-or-politics/index.html

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Week 8: Essay Planning

SOURCES ↓

Isabella Gomez Sarmiento. (2018, January 26). Frida Kahlo: Radical Artist, Political Activist, Icon. Teen Vogue. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/frida-kahlo-radical-artist-political-activist-icon

Google Arts and Culture. (n.d.). Self Portrait Along the Border Line Between Mexico and the United States, 1932. https://artsandculture.google.com/story/self-portrait-on-the-borderline-between-mexico-and-the-united-states-1932/-QLCA772QViFIg

Ellie Violet Bramley. (2017, October 29). Frida Kahlo: feminist, selfie queen, queer icon and style muse of 2017. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/oct/29/frida-kahlo-style-muse-of-the-year

Ayoola Solarin. (2018, June 11). Frida Kahlo is not your symbol. Dazed. https://www.dazeddigital.com/art-photography/article/40259/1/frida-kahlo-is-not-your-symbol

Henry Ford Hospital, 1932 by Frida Kahlo. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4th, 2022. https://www.fridakahlo.org/henry-ford-hospital.jsp

Michael Govan. (2018, March 28). Is art for pleasure or politics? CNN Style. https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/intelligence-squared-is-art-for-pleasure-or-politics/index.html

Marlen Komar. (2018, June 15). How Frida Kahlo’s fashions brought Mexican politics to the world stage. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/frida-kahlo-mexican-fashion/index.html

Paul Trachtman. (2006, May). A Brief History of Dada. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/dada-115169154/

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Week 7 SDL

List of Essay Ideas

How 20th century Mexican politics influenced Frida Kahlo’s paintings.

How 20th century Mexican identity is represented through surrealism in Kahlo’s paintings

How painted portraiture is utilised to depict Frida Kahlo’s societal obstacles in 20th century Mexico.

The relationship between abstract symbolism and 20th century Mexican identity in Frida Kahlo’s work.

The sociocultural impacts of Frida Kahlo’s paintings in 20th century Mexico.

Two Resources

Source 1: Latimer, Joanna (2009). Unsettling bodies: Frida Kahlo's portraits and in/dividuality. Sociological Review Monograph 2009. Vol. 56 Issue 2, p46-62. 17p. https://doi-org.ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/10.1111/j.1467-954X.2009.00815

Main Message

Source 2: Monica A. Rankin. (2011). Mexicanas en guerra: World War II and the Discourse of Mexican Female Identity. Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, 32(2), 83–110. https://doi.org/10.5250/fronjwomestud.32.2.0083

Main Message

Two Images

Source 1:

Source 2: 

Reflection

Based on this extra research, I was able to learn more about Frida Kahlo’s work, but more specifically, how the female identity evolved to become more modernised in Mexico during WWII. An interesting point I discovered was the use of women in national war propaganda (source 2 image) to represent the land as feminine - in need of protection (masculinity) and rescuing. This made me further realise how women’s gender roles are still cemented into society till this day. This relates to my topic and era as Frida Kahlo was a woman who lived during this time in 20th century Mexico. Facing misogyny and societal expectations, she managed to be a powerful figure in the art world. Furthermore, art through propaganda was used to represent the country during war, emphasising how politics and art have always been intertwined in connecting with people. 

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Week 6: Lecture Notes

Semiotics and Visual Literacy

In this week’s lecture, we learned about the aspects of visual analysis, such as signs, symbols, index, connotations, and existing models/theories. This will be used to analyse images relating to our research in the formative assignment.

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Week 5: Chosen Text Research

This is my powerpoint presentation about one chosen source from Week 4′s task regarding my chosen personality Frida Kahlo.

Source: Nieves Limón Serrano. (2019). Frida Kahlo’s Photographic Posing: A Theoretical Approach to Visual Autobiographies. Journal of Latin American Cultural Studies (13569325). Jun2019, Vol. 28 Issue 2, p277-290. 14p.

https://doi-org.ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/10.1080/13569325.2019.1619540

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Week 4: Searching Techniques

This week we learned how to use the AUT Library’s search function to look for different written and visual resources regarding our research topic. As my figure is Frida Kahlo, I chose keywords and sources relating to Mexico, art ad design of the 20th century, social issues regarding the time period and location, and material solely focused on Frida Kahlo.

Search Keywords

‘early 20th century design’

‘Frida Kahlo’

‘Mexico 20th century’

‘Mexican Revolution’ 

Written Sources

1) Nieves Limón Serrano. (2019). Frida Kahlo's Photographic Posing: A Theoretical Approach to Visual Autobiographies. Journal of Latin American Cultural Studies (13569325). Jun2019, Vol. 28 Issue 2, p277-290. 14p.

 https://doi-org.ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/10.1080/13569325.2019.1619540

*This journal article is about Frida Kahlo and focuses on her photographic self-portraits and autobiography - highlighting an art form that is different to the one she is renowned for. This source is relevant because it shows that Frida Kahlo’s abilities extend past painting, as she also expressed her life, heritage, and creativity through photographed self-portraits.

2) Alba F. Aragón. (2014). Uninhabited Dresses: Frida Kahlo, from Icon of Mexico to Fashion Muse. Fashion Theory: The Journal of Dress, Body & Culture. Nov2014, Vol. 18 Issue 5, p517-549. 33p.

https://doi-org.ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/10.2752/175174114X14042383562065

3) Nicole Sanders. (2011). Gender and Honor in Mexican History: Liberalism and Revolution in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Mexico.  Mexican Studies/Estudios Mexicanos. 27(1):207-223.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/msem.2011.27.1.207

4) John Lear.  Representing Workers, the Workers Represented: Artists, Unions and Print Production in the Mexican Revolution. Third Text. May 2014, Vol. 28 Issue 3, p235-255. 21p.

https://doi-org.ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/10.1080/09528822.2014.903605

5)  Johanna Drucker. (1952). Who's Afraid of Visual Culture? Art Journal Vol. 58, No. 4. pp. 36-47.

https://doi-org.ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/10.2307/777910

Visual Sources

1)  Uninhabited Dresses: Frida Kahlo, from Icon of Mexico to Fashion Muse (1)

Figure 1: Frida Kahlo, My Dress Hangs There (1933) (oil and collage on Masonite). © 2014 Banco de México Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust, Mexico, D.F./Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo © Christie’s Images/The Bridgeman Art Library

2)  Uninhabited Dresses: Frida Kahlo, from Icon of Mexico to Fashion Muse (2)

Figure 2: Frida Kahlo’s prosthetic leg on display at Appearances Can Be Deceiving, at the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City 2012–14. Photo © Miguel Tovar. Used with permission of the Frida Kahlo Museum.

3) Representing Workers, the Workers Represented: Artists, Unions and Print Production in the Mexican Revolution (1)

Xavier Guerrero, ‘How one works’, El Machete, 15 June 1924, collection of Centro de Estudios del Movimiento Obrero y Socialista, photo: John Lea

4) Representing Workers, the Workers Represented: Artists, Unions and Print Production in the Mexican Revolution (2)

Liga de Escritores y Artistas Revolucionarios, El Machete, 1 May 1936, collection of Centro de Estudios del Movimiento Obrero y Socialista, photo: John Lear

*This figure depicts the first May Day (labour day) celebration in 1936 since the formation of the CTM (Confederation of Mexican Workers (Confederacio´n de Trabajadores de Me´xico)). It celebrates the unity between groups such as CTM, the Communist Party, LEAR (League of Revolutionary Writers and Artists (Liga de Escritores y Artistas Revolucionarios)), and the National Revolutionary Party. This source is relevant as it occured post-Mexican Revolution, which was a crucial event in Mexico’s history as it reformed society, politics, and economics. 

5) Representing Workers, the Workers Represented: Artists, Unions and Print Production in the Mexican Revolution (3)

El Machete, back page, 1 May 1938, collection of Centro de Estudios del Movimiento Obrero y Socialista, photo: John Lear

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Week 3: Printing & Making Processes Mood Board

FIVE PRINTING AND MAKING PROCESSES OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Sculpting - Sculpting is an art practice in which materials such as stone and clay were carved and modelled to create specific forms/figures. However, since the progression of modernism in the 20th century, this practice and its materials has since become more flexible. For example, notable artists such as Picasso revolutionised this practice by taking inspiration from Cubism, and combining existing objects and materials together - essentially a 3D collage. As a result of instances like this, sculpting has become a more diverse and liberated practice for modern artists to experiment with.

Weaving - Weaving is a process where different yarns or threads are interlaced to form a fabric, being one prominent method of textile production. In the 20th century, popular textile artists such as Anni Albers took inspiration from the Bauhaus movement. Rather than crafting ‘images’ through weaving, she explored different possibilities with the use of composition and vivid colours. Today, textiles are able to be produced with machinery, and the quality of materials has been improved over time for commercialisation. 

Screen Printing - Screen printing is a process where a layer of ink is placed over a screen to produce an image. This type of printing allows for the use of different printing surfaces and materials. For example, in 1907, using silk as a printing surface was successful in creating commericalised wallpaper. In recent years, screen printing is a popular and cost effective method that is utilised in many industries, as it is simple and uses a thicker layer of ink compared to traditional printing.

Xerography - Xerography is a type of printing that was invented in 1947 by the company Xerox, being the first commercialised dry photocopying technique. This process included transferring photographs onto plain, uncoated pieces of paper to make copies. This type of printing was revolutionary during its time, as one of its main benefits was the lack of liquid chemicals, meaning the copies were ready instantly. In recent times, printers have become more versatile and are able to print, scan, and photocopy simultaneously.

Offset Printing - Offset printing (1904) is a technique in which an inked image (’offset’) is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then the printing surface. Combined with the lithographic process (oil and water combination), ink rollers applied ink to the ‘image’ areas, and water rollers applied water film to the ‘non-image’ areas. However in the 20th century as photography and related technology developed, lithography inevitably became obsolete. In modern offset printing, one of the main functions is prepress production, where files are converted to CMYK, and separate plates for each colour run on the press.

SOURCES ↓

Susan Delson. (2018, October 5). Weaving the Twentieth Century. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/weaving-the-twentieth-century-1538662628

Prepressure. (n.d.). The history of print from 1900 to 1949. https://www.prepressure.com/printing/history/1900-1949

Offset Printing. (2022, March 30). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offset_printing

Paul Salmon. (2016, September 19). Everything You Need To Know About Screen Printing. Technically Easy. https://technicallyeasy.net/everything-need-know-screen-printing/

Pamono. (n.d.). Godefroy Engelmann, View of Rome, Offset Print, Early 20th Century. https://www.pamono.eu/godefroy-engelmann-view-of-rome-offset-print-early-20th-century

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2018). Xerox. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Xerox-Corporation

Laurel Bouye. (2021, October 21). 10 Iconic 20th Century Sculptures. KazoArt. https://www.kazoart.com/blog/en/ten-iconic-20th-century-sculptures/

Chloe-Jane Good. (2019, January 18). In Focus: The mesmerising work of Anni Albers, the Bauhaus graduate who turned weaving into fine art. Country Life. https://www.countrylife.co.uk/luxury/art-and-antiques/focus-mesmerising-work-anni-albers-bauhaus-graduate-turned-weaving-fine-art-191299

Edward Noah Abrahart. (2021). Textile. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/textile/The-modern-textile-industry

Xerography. (2021, April 8). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerography

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Week 3: Art and Design Mood Boards

FIVE 20TH CENTURY ART MOVEMENTS

Mexican Muralism (Mexico, 1920s-) After the Mexican Revolution, Mexico had a period of reform to unify the country under a new government. Muralism was a governmental project that allowed artists to promote their own political ideas and beliefs to wider society. Artists painted large artworks onto walls in public settings, and subject matter included nature and people.

Surrealism (France, 1910s-) Surrealism is an art movement that is characterised by depictions of illogical scenes that contradicted reality. This movement was officially established in the 1920s, and spread around the world through different practices. Frida Kahlo is an example of a surrealist artist, as she depicted unnerving and surreal elements in her works. 

Art Deco (France, 1900s-) Art Deco is a visual style that originated in France pre World War I. It is characterised by geometric shapes, straight and smooth lines, vivid colours, and sleekness. This style of art is seemingly flexible, as many artists have also combined it with the genres of Realism and Abstraction in painting. 

Cubism (France, 1900s-) Cubism is an art movement that revolutionized European visual arts and media. This style consists of broken up objects that are reassembled and abstracted. Objects are also depicted from multiple viewpoints to represent subject matter. A prominent artist from this movement is pioneer Pablo Picasso, best known for his portraits.

Abstract Expressionism (USA, 1940s-) Abstract Expressionism is a post-WWII movement that developed in the USA. It is a predecessor of Surrealism, as it is spontaneous and automatic. It had a reputation of being ‘rebellious’ against styles that prioritised rigid form and figure, such as Futurism, Bauhaus, and Cubism. 

FIVE 20TH CENTURY DESIGN MOVEMENTS

Art Deco (France, 1900s-) As mentioned previously, Art Deco was successfully incorporated into painting, but also influenced design practices. In graphic design, common characteristics were simple but dynamic images, vivid colours and colour blocking, and straight lines and geometric shapes. These elements are commonly seen to this day, as this movement was extremely influential. 

Dadaism (Switzerland, 1910s-1920s) Dadaism was a European art movement that built its foundation on anti-war and anti-capitalist politics, especially after WWI. This design style focused on practices such as collaging, sound poetry, and cut up writing. Influenced by Cubism, this style utilised materials such as photographs, tickets, maps, etc. to creates collages and photomontages that held significant political meaning.

Art Nouveau (UK, 1890s-) As this movement developed during the era of new printing and colour lithography (oil and water printing) technology, graphic design flourished, and posters/magazine covers started being mass produced. The Art Nouveau style is influenced by nature and organic shapes and lines, as well as earthy colour schemes. 

Bauhaus (Germany, 1910s-) The Bauhaus movement is fairly simple and associated with primary colours, straight lines, white space, and the use of circles, triangles, and squares. The popular typeface ‘Universal’ was also developed by Herbert Bayer with the ideals of functionality and accessibility. This design movement is still widely used today, as it is simple, making it easy to convey information. 

Futurism (Italy, 1900s-) Futurism is an art and design movement that emphasised technology, speed, and youthfulness, as per the name. Subject matter typically included industrial elements such as cars, cityscapes, and airplanes, symbolising the advancement to modernism. In graphic design, common characterstics were vivid colours, sans serif type, and strong geometric shapes with a flexible use of line. This movement was also heavily stylised through the use of these elements. 

SOURCES ↓

(1) Art Movements

Mexican muralism. (2022, March 25). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_muralism

Anna Purna Kambhampaty. (2020, February 20). Mexican Muralists Changed the Course of 20th-Century American Art. A New Exhibit Explores Their Influence. Time. https://time.com/5786068/whitney-museum-mexican-muralists/

Art Deco. (2022, March 18). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Deco

Surrealism. (2022, April 4). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealism

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2020). Abstract Expressionism. Britannica. https://www. britannica.com/art/Abstract-Expressionism

Cubism. (2022, April 9). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubism

Abstract Expressionism. (2022, April 3). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstract_expressionism

(2)  Design Movements

Maya Lekach. (2015). Know your design history: the Bauhaus movement. 99designs. https://99designs.com/blog/design-history-movements/know-your-design-history-the-bauhaus-movement/

Madeleine Morley. (2019, December 2). Examples of Bauhaus Graphic Design that Shaped the Movement. AIGA Eye on Design. https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/5-examples-of-bauhaus-graphic-design-that-shaped-the-movement/

Dada. (2022, April 11). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dada

Marc Schenker. (2021, September 2). Italian Futurism Design: History and Examples. Creative Market. https://creativemarket.com/blog/italian-futurism-design

Art Nouveau. (2022, March 19). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau

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Week 3: Sociocultural Mood Board

Music - The music of this era consisted significantly of Mariachi. Mariachi is a Mexican genre of music that originated in the 18th century, consisting of violins, trumpets, guitars, a bass, and a Mexican vihuela (string instrument). Members of the group take turns singing lead, while the other members sing backup vocals. Prior to Spanish arrival and influence, indigenous music was played with drums, flutes, rattles, and conch-shell instruments. 

Fashion - Clothing and fashion consisted of both casual and traditional dress. In the early 20th century, Frida Kahlo was well-known for her interesting and colourful dress choices, which blended her mixed European and Indigenous heritages. For example, she would combine contemporary dresses with Huipil (sleeveless tunic) blouses, and combine silver earrings with indigenous necklaces. She also regularly wore Rebozo scarves (shawls), which symbolised femininity.

Literature - Two prominent literary figures during this period were poet and author Rosario Castellanos, and playwright Rodolfo Usigli. Castellanos is notable for her works regarding culture and gender oppression. Her work has influenced feminist theory, and opened doors to other women in literature following her premature death. Usigli is referred to as ‘the father of Mexican theatre,’ as he established a national identity for the country’s theatre during and after the Mexican Revolution. He believed the objective was to tell the truth about Mexican society.

Cinema  - During the Golden age of Mexican cinema between 1936 and 1956, the Cine Opera was a monumental movie theatre that opened in 1949, and closed in 1998. It is a large, Art-Deco inspired theatre that housed many decorative features and architectural details. Unfortunately, after it’s decline it became abandoned, but still stands to this day. Additionally, the first Mexican narrative sound film was Santa (1932), directed by Antonio Moreno. This opened doors for the development of Mexican cinema further into the century. 

Festivities - A significant traditional holiday in Mexico is ‘Día de los Muertos,’ or ‘Day of the Dead.’ It is traditionally celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November, and sometimes the 6th of November and 31st of October. It is a celebration of the deceased, and has a joyful and fun ambience. Common practices include giving candy sugar skulls as gifts, and sharing pan de Muertos (a bread dish). The main symbol of this holiday is a skull (calavera), and people wear colourful masks with their clothing. 

Food & Cuisine - In the 20th century, traditional foods such as tortillas, tacos, enchiladas, and salsa became more mainstream in American cuisine. Many Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans shared these dishes, and it was incorporated in eateries and everyday life. To create the dough of the flour dishes, ground corn was used, then placed onto a conveyer belt, then hand-cracked to be flattened.

SOURCES ↓

South Coast Repertory. (2019, Aug 09). History of Mariachi. https://www.scr.org/get-connected/south-coast-repertorys-stories/south-coast-repertory%27s-stories/2019/08/09/history-of-mariachi

Mariachi Music.com. (n.d.). Mariachi Instrumentation. https://mariachimusic.com/about/history/mariachi-instrumentation/

Miriam Oesterreich. (2018). The Display of the ‘Indigenous’ – Collecting and Exhibiting ‘Indigenous’ Artifacts in Mexico, 1920-1940. Artelogie. https://journals.openedition.org/artelogie/2201

Golden Age of Mexican cinema. (2022, March 25). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Age_of_Mexican_cinema#/media/File:Cine_%C3%93pera_-_Colonia_San_Rafael,_Ciudad_de_M%C3%A9xico.jpg

National Museum of American History Behring Center. (n.d.). The Mexican Food Revolution. https://americanhistory.si.edu/food/resetting-table/mexican-food-revolution

Dr. Gary Mounce. (2019). Mounce: Your Pueblo, Your Truth: Mexican Art, Universal Truths. Rio Grande Guardian. Advance online publication. https://riograndeguardian.com/mounce-your-pueblo-your-truth-mexican-art-universal-truths/

Rosario Castellanos. (2022, February 2). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosario_Castellanos

Santa (1932 film). (2022, January 28). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_(1932_film)

(2020). Day of the dead, México,1950. [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/TheWayWeWere/comments/jmfwfm/day_of_the_dead_m%C3%A9xico1950/

Day of the Dead. (2022, April 11). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead

Old Woman Making TORTILLAS Vintage Mexican Food Photo RPPC Postcard 1940s. eBay. Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://www.ebay.com/itm/224556012488

Marlen Komar. (2018, June 15). How Frida Kahlo's fashions brought Mexican politics to the world stage. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/frida-kahlo-mexican-fashion/index.html

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Week 3: Lecture Notes

In this week’s lecture, we learned about the history of design in the Western world. 

This began in the Dark Ages in 10th to 14th century Europe. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, society severely declined regarding economic, intellectual, and cultural factors.

This segued into the Scientific Revolution, most notably, Copernicus’s theory that the Sun was actually at the centre of the universe, rather than the Earth.

Then, The Enlightenment, a celebration of reason over belief, was emphasised in Western society, and is stronger than ever to this day.

From 1880 to 1910, the Industrial Revolution began during the late Victorian period in England. This era focused on the improvement of machinery and factories, resulting in new jobs and migration. Eventually, this lead to a rise in disease, poverty, and crime. Pessimism and cynicism were on the rise, as bad conditions and poor wages decreased the overall quality of life. 

Critical figures of this era such as William Morris, a British designer, started emphasising the beauty of handmade goods, which were higher in quality as they weren’t mass produced for commercialisation.

This then initiated the Arts and Crafts Movement. This prioritised handmade ornamentation, ceramics, book design, and organic architecture. The belief in craftsmanship over commercialisation is still valued today, as many designers prioritse the beauty of materials and quality, while balancing the utilisation of machines.

Therefore, the socioeconomic/cultural factors of the past in Western society have resulted in design as we know it today. Critical design thinking achieves a balance between machinery and handmade techniques, as well as a line between pure capitalism and the authenticity of craftsmanship. 

[zainabk-grad505]

Week 2: Overview and Research Questions

This Week’s Lecture

In this week’s lecture we were given ideas to further our design research. Regarding our chosen personality/ancestor, we need to create 15 research questions about the time period, cultures, and environments. Then, we have to create 2 time period based mood boards, one being historical and another being geographical.

Research Questions

1. Who is Frida Kahlo?

2. What were some Major Events in Frida Kahlo’s Life?

3. Who were Frida Kahlo’s Artistic Influences?

4. What was the Impact of Frida Kahlo’s Work on Society?

5. How did the Social Climate of Mexico Affect Frida Kahlo’s Work?

6. What were the Main Art Movements at the time?

7. What was the Political Climate of the era?

8. How did Major World Events Impact Mexico?

9. What were the most Popular Music and Fashion Trends?

10. What was the Societal Structure during this time?

11. When did Modernisation start occurring in Mexico?

12. Who were the most Successful Artists of the era?

13. What were the most Popular Forms of Media?

14. How were Politics Utilised in Art?

15. When did Technology Begin to Advance?

[zainabk-grad505]

Week 2: History & Geography Mood Boards

Personality: Frida Kahlo, Artist (1907-1954, Mexico)

History Mood Board

A mood board surrounding the national and international historical events in early to mid 20th century Mexico.

The history of Mexico during the early 20th century is centered around political shifts, major world events, and social issues. Firstly, the Mexican Revolution was a series of armed regional conflicts in Mexico between 1910 and 1920 that ended the dictatorship regime of Porfirio Diaz. This s is one of the major defining events in Mexico’s history, and allowed for further social and economic growth later into the century. 

World War I occurred simultaneously in 1914 to 1918, in which the country remained politically neutral. However, the USA viewed this as hostility, therefore Mexico faced constant threats of invasion. Furthermore, the Great Depression, a worldwide economic depression, drastically impacted employment during the 1930s. During this time, a large amount of Mexican-Americans were deported back to Mexico to reserve jobs for 'prioritised’ American-born Citizens. Then came World War II, which lasted from 1939 to 1945. Mexico became active in this war, and supported the Allies (USA, UK, USSR). Their major contribution was to provide the US with materials, therefore industrialism boosted the Mexican population and economy.

Additionally, Mexico welcomed many exiles from the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939, and aided the Republican (left-leaning) side in finances and weaponry. Lastly, regarding social issues, gender equality and feminism occurred in multiple waves, and women achieved the right to vote in 1953. Women also played a significant role in the Mexican Revolution, and were referred to as ‘La Soldaderas’ (female soldiers), breaking traditional gender expectations.

Geography Mood Board

A mood board depicting the maps, architecture, urban, rural, and natural environments, and transport of early to mid 20th century Mexico.

Frida Kahlo was born and raised in early 20th century Mexico City, Mexico. Mexico is a North American country that borders the United States with a population of 128 million as of 2020. During Kahlo’s lifetime, Mexico’s population doubled from 14 million in 1900 to 28 million in 1950.

This period, regarding geography, acted as a foundation for the modern architecture, transport, and urbanisation of Mexico as seen in the 21st century. Influences from architects such as Luis Barragán in the 1950s and 1960s explored Spanish colonial architecture with modernist influences on the designs of residencies and facilities.

Moreover, transport in this era consisted largely of railroads and horses within rural areas, and as time passed, motor vehicles became popularised in urbanised areas. Lastly, a notable native fauna native was the Mexican Grizzly Bear, found in Northern Mexico, closer to the southern USA where various bear species are typically found today. This species has been presumed to be extinct since the late 20th century.

SOURCES ↓

Tomboyglam. Map of Mexico, Full Color, C.S. Hammond & Co. Atlas c.1910. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://tomboyglam.ecrater.com/p/15063692/map-of-mexico-full-color-cs

O’Rourke, K.  Architecture in Mexico City, 1940–1980. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Latin American History. Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://oxfordre.com/latinamericanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199366439.001.0001/acrefore-9780199366439-e-326.

Bear Conservation. Mexican grizzly bear (extinct). (n.d.). Retrieved March 8, 2022, from http://www.bearconservation.org.uk/mexican-grizzly-extinct/

Suleman Anaya (2020, July 24). Luis Barragan’s Forgotten Works, Revisited. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/24/t-magazine/luis-barragan.html

Vintage Everyday. (n.d.). Everyday Life of Mexico in the Early 20th Century Through Hugo Brehme's Lens. Retrieved J March 8, 2022, from https://www.vintag.es/2017/05/everyday-life-of-mexicans-in-early-20th.html

Geographicus Rare Antique Maps. (n.d.). 1931 Miguel Gomez Medina Pictorial Map of Mexico. Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://www.geographicus.com/P/AntiqueMap/mexicopictorialmap-medina-1931

Gabriel H. Sanchez. (2017). This Is What Mexico City Looked Like In The Mid-20th Century. Buzzfeed. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/gabrielsanchez/beautiful-photos-of-mexico-city-during-the-mid-20th

Architecture of Mexico. (2010). En-Academic. Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/11731060#19th_and_early_20th_Century_Architecture

Alejandro Quintana. (2020). The Mexican Revolution. Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/whp-origins/era-7-the-great-convergence-and-divergence-1880-ce-to-the-future/71-world-war-1-betaa/a/read-the-mexican-revolution-beta

Maria Jose Santana. (2022). The Forgotten Ally: Mexico’s Involvement In WWII. Cultura Colectiva. https://culturacolectiva.com/history/the-forgotten-ally-mexicos-involvement-in-world-war-ii/

Marilyn La Jeunesse. (2019, March 12). The Real History of Las Soldaderas, the Women Who Made the Mexican Revolution Possible. Teen Vogue. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/the-real-history-of-las-soldaderas

Blake Stilwel. (2022). This was the WWI battle between Mexico and the US. We are the Mighty. https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/this-was-the-wwi-battle-between-mexico-and-the-us/

Ursula Wolfe-Rocca. (2019). Downplaying Deportations: How Textbooks Hide the Mass Expulsion of Mexican Americans During the Great Depression. Zinn Education Project. https://www.zinnedproject.org/if-we-knew-our-history/downplaying-deportations

El Universal. The vessel that brought Spanish Republican exiles to Mexico. (2020). Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english/sinaia-vessel-carried-hopes-and-dreams-spanish-republican-exiles-mexico

[zainabk-grad505]

Week 1: Overview and Personality Mood Board

This Week's Lecture

This week we reviewed the course outline, schedule, and the brief. This included the timeline of work we need to do, which will then conclude with a 1200-1500 word essay about a practice of design during a specific time period and location. Our first task was to choose a personality/ancestor from the past (between 1830 and 1990), and create a mood board, including a description of them.

Mood Board

This is my mood board of Frida Kahlo, an artist/personality from the past that I admire.

SOURCES ↓

Text and Photograph: Frida Kahlo. (2022). Retrieved March 8th, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo

Image 1: The Two Fridas, 1939 by Frida Kahlo. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8th, 2022, from https://www.fridakahlo.org/the-two-fridas.jsp

Image 2: Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8th, 2022, from https://www.fridakahlo.org/self-portrait-with-thorn-necklace-and-hummingbird.jsp

Image 3: Thinking about death - by Frida Kahlo. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8th, 2022, from https://www.fridakahlo.org/thinking-about-death.jsp

Image 4: Self Portrait Along the Border Line Between Mexico and the United States, 1932. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8th, 2022, from https://www.fridakahlo.org/self-portrait-along-the-boarder-line.jsp

[zainabk-grad505]

About Me

Hi! My name is Zainab and I was born and raised in East Auckland, New Zealand. My interests mainly include art and design, more specifically digital painting and illustration as shown above.

I decided to study Communication Design at AUT because art is a lifelong passion of mine, and I wanted to develop my existing skills to eventually begin a career in the design industry.