Posted by Margaret Carson on March 06, 192003 at 22:54:47:
In Reply to: Sor Juana posted by Isabel C. Vallejo on March 03, 192003 at 13:34:28:
One of the pachamama religious paintings that Isabel refers to is on display in a special show at the Metropolitan Museum. Go to this website to see pachamama/mother mountain a/k/a the Virgen del Rosario de Cuzco, taken from a church from Guapalo outside of Quito, painted in the 17th century.
http://www.metmuseum.org/special/Spanish_Americas/2.L.htm
Besides the mountain-like or pyramidal shape of the pachamama, I was also fascinated by the parted red curtains on either side of the painting-- as if she were on stage. This is the only painting on display in this small exhibit which also has a few Incan drinking vessels known as keros with pre-Conquest motifs. Another incredible object is a religious mosaic from Mexico which instead of small pieces of tile uses tiny hummingbird feathers to create images of saints and the Last Supper. From a foot away it looks like a normal mosaic; it’s only when you get closer that you notice the furry surface! If you happen to be at the Met I’d recommend a visit. The exhibit is up until April 6 and is in the mezzanine of the American Wing.
: I feel that this play writen by sor juana is very significant to pinpointing a time when now Latinamerican culture and reality begins to flourish as opposed to just indeginous or hispanic culture within the americas. in her play she personifies America and the West putting into context with one name bothe the people and the land being conquered. she takes care to explain and mention the religous beliefs of the indeginous people through these two characters as well.
: The play demonstrates the reality of the latin american people after Spanish conquest. the indegeonus communities are not alliwed to manifest their owm cultural beliefs in the new conquered society, yet they don't compltetly submit to the religion and culture of the conquerers. Here America explains it best:
: America
: If your petition for my life
: and show of Christian charity
: are motivated by the hope
: that you, at last, will conquer me,
: defeating my integrity 230
: with verbal steel where bullets failed,
: then you are sadly self-deceived.
: A weeping captive, I may mourn
: for liberty, yet my will grows
: beyond these bonds; my heart is free,
: and I will worship my own gods!
:
: The indian people give in to the violence and words of persuasion to save their own lives and keep their heart free. They may obey christian and spanish law, but in their heart they will always worship their own gods.
: it is a phenomena that began to occur in latin america where two different cultures join to form one, instead of one being overpowered by the other. n cuzco the same thing happens when religous paintings of the Virgen Mary are superimposed with that of the mountain representation of the pachamama. In one painting both religions are represented as one.