Wednesday, September 21, 2011
American Regionalism
From Wikipedia:
In Grant Wood's pamphlet Revolt Against the City, published in Iowa City, 1935, he asserts that American artists and buyers of art were no longer looking to Parisian culture for subject matter and style. Wood wrote that Regional artists interpret physiography, industry, and psychology of their hometown, and that the competition of these preceding elements creates American culture. He wrote that the lure of the city was gone, and hopes that art of the widely diffused "whole people" would prevail. He cites Thomas Jefferson's characterization of cities as "ulcers on the body politic."
Hispanic Heritage Year?
Hispanic Heritage Month covers the month between September 15 and October 15. It is meant to commemorate the many contributions of Latino and Hispanic peoples in both the United States of America and more generally in North America.
I wonder if we really need the federal government to tell Southern California to celebrate Latin American culture. I feel like a lot of our lives our spent under the influence of this cultural vibrancy, whether in our architecture, our food or our history.
While Hispanic as an ethnicity projects an image of minority-status, the growing prevalence of Latino peoples in Southern California and more broadly the Southwestern United States is unmistakably significant. It is all around us. So do we really need to celebrate something that is so common and accessible?
If the goal is greater understanding, then maybe there is purpose in celebration. But that should be made clear. Celebrating for the sake of celebrating doesn't make much sense.
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