Barriers and Borders

As last week’s readings showed me how the Native Americans influenced Frontier culture, this week’s readings are showing me how much the frontier or la frontera has and is being influenced by people of Hispanic decent, and how the influence of their culture is continuing to grow as a result of “The Mestiza“(how the author calls it so I will call it the remainder of this post.) In the borderlands reading I saw the Aztec term mestiza many times which means the: product of the transfer of cultural and spiritual values from one group to another. Also as we all know America has been the “melting pot” or cultures ever since the beginning of our fine country. I feel many people, including myself; think of America just as a melting pot of European Cultures, which is defiantly not the sole case. We now, in these times white culture vs. Hispanic culture, view that the mixing of culture should be avoided and even looked down upon, but where would we be if we had this mind set for all of American history? I am not sure I can totally answer that question but I guarantee that we would certainly not have the diversity that makes this country great. Also towards the end of the borderlands reading it makes clear that the author thinks that the only way we will survive is “straddle two or more cultures, and that it is the way of the mestiza to be our future.

In Davis’ writing I get the feeling that he is talking about the mixing of culture as well. “When you say America you refer to the territory stretching between the icecaps of the two poles and to hell with your barriers and frontier guards”- Diego Rivera. This first line in The Magical Urbanism and I think he intends it to insinuate that America not just land, but people in the land and no barriers can keep people from being American. This then leads us to the main part of his essay about the immigration and the mixing of cultures. Any barriers we have, won’t be contain culture to a specific region, which I think Davis is really trying to get across with this opening quote. Also in this article I get the impression that he almost has the same general ideas that are expressed in borderlands.

image used from regrentsprep.org

Weather us as Americans like it or not we have to adapt to the inevitable changes that are happening to us. Now more than ever we need to be reverting back to “old America” style thinking and start accepting and integrating our mix of American cultures with the new ever growing Hispanic culture that has been booming since the 70’s. I feel that this is what these meanings are telling us and us as Americans need to be ready for another culture being added to our melting pot. Ready or not.

Week 1

(click picture to view larger, also circled in red are points i have made about each picture)

The post that I am choosing to blog about is the images. The first picture, the one with buffalo Bill in the center of the picture, I found to be the most typical idea of the wild west. It shows all the aspects of the west that you would see such as the horse riding, covered wagons, and 6 shooters.

At the same time, I feel this image is also very iconic and genius. I feel this way because these are the images that everyone associates with the wild west today. For example, when watching a movie about the Wild West these are the main things that are always included.

The next picture i would like to analyize is the one with the Buffalo Bill with General Custard.First i was wondering where those two are going.To me it almost looks like they are heading into a battle together.I dont see anything to really defend themselves but i dont know what kind of heat a general would be packing. I think this becuase the way the picutre is it shows their horses really booking it. I dont really see battle atI like this one because it includes a wild west super star such as General Custard. I really love this picture because of its historical value. I have found information telling of buffalo Bill and his evenging of General Custer.( about half way down). The connection is cool because it pictures them as "riding together" almost as friends. All this is what i find the most interesting about this picture.

The third picture that I would like to talk about is the one with Buffalo Bill holding the head dress

of the Native American. This image is the Wild Wild West stereotype of cowboys and indians. This picture also has some histrical value to it (see link above). This image is depicting Buffolo Bills taking his revenge on the supposed Native chief that killed General George Custer.

As the story goes, Bill is called back into service finds the Cheif gets into a fight with him and ultimatly kills him.This picture shows Bill scalping the Cheif Yellow Hand with his bloody knife, and holding his head dress up in a almost trophy like fasion.

Another thing is the fact that again is anther connection with the previous picture i had mentioned. They in a sence go along with each other perfectly( if you know the history)

These are the images I have found most interesting out of the pictures we have been presented.

5 Random things about me!

First that I love Cars! My top favorite Cars are....

1. Corvette ZR1
2. My Second Favorite Car is te New 2010 Chevy Camero
3. 3rd Favorite Car is A McLaren F1( to expensive for me though)

2nd Random fact about me is that I Have been to 49 out of 50 States.

3rd: I love technology and computers. Many times you will find me checking out some new gizmo that came out.

4th I work in the Library and at Flubs Dari-ette( I got to Create the Website!)

5th I probably play Xbox way to much, my favorite Games are Call of Duty, and Forza motorsports 2