Blogs

In her story “Cooking Lesson”, Rosario Castellanos expertly outlines the woes of women and their place in society. She combines two stories to highlight the sacrifices that she has had to take because of the gender roles that tie her down. During the story, the woman/narrator explains her resentment towards being a housewife all whileContinue reading "Week 4: Food and Drink" read full post >>

For week four, “Cooking Lessons” by Rosario Castellanos was a very interesting read. In this piece, she beautifully depicts the struggles a woman faces when she does not meet the expectations required of a traditional Mexican housewife. As one can assume by the title “Cooking Lessons”, the main, superficial focus is that of a housewifeContinue reading "Week 4: Cooking Lessons by Rosario Castellanos" read full post >>

Articles: Legend of the Silent Bell & The Pongo’s Dream These two stories are very similar in nature but grounded in the male and female experience as a difference. The first one I read was the Legend of the Silent Bell, this story was heard to read. As, it was written in a fashion that […] read full post >>

Articles: Legend of the Silent Bell & The Pongo’s Dream These two stories are very similar in nature but grounded in the male and female experience as a difference. The first one I read was the Legend of the Silent Bell, this story was heard to read. As, it was written in a fashion that […] read full post >>

José Maria Arguedas reminds readers that in the end, what you get is what you give in ‘The Pongo’s Dream’.  Immediately, the dynamic between the two main characters is set as the Master consistently dehumanizes Pongo. He does so by insisting Pongo to act as an animal and only ever naming him ‘Indian’. The racism […] read full post >>

In José María Arguedas’s “The Pongo’s Dream”, the figure of Saint Francis plays an interesting role when considered in relation to Latin American popular culture. Roman Catholic Latin Americans, and even many people who don’t consider themselves Catholic, oftentimes own iconic representations of saints, such as portraits and medallions. The figure of Saint Francis, inContinue reading "Saints and Folktales: Latin American Pop Culture" read full post >>

In José María Arguedas’s “The Pongo’s Dream”, the figure of Saint Francis plays an interesting role when considered in relation to Latin American popular culture. Roman Catholic Latin Americans, and even many people who don’t consider themselves Catholic, oftentimes own iconic representations of saints, such as portraits and medallions. The figure of Saint Francis, inContinue reading "Saints and Folktales: Latin American Pop Culture" read full post >>

Other than the initial reaction of the beautiful message using ‘poop’ to talk about morality and kindness, Pongo’s Dream also offers a unique perspective into Peruvian race relations with aspects of power and of the mystical. It is hard to say what the exact motives of this story are, but the first thing I find […] read full post >>

 Both The Legend of the Silent Bell and Pong's Dream demonstrate how the tenets of Christianity were used to justify the actions of colonists from Spain. Although characters wholeheartedly and respectfully believe in the catholic God in both stories, these indigenismo pieces critique religion as the monolithic and aggressive mechanism of Western cultural imperialism. Although not inherently evil, racial condemnation in Catholic practices and aim to convert the world, thus destroying culture of indigenous civilizations whose goods and materials are used to stimulate Spain's economy. 

In The Legend of the Silent Bell I believe the call of the church of Clarisas for citizen's precious metals as an act of personal faith represents the cultural sacrifice many indigenous peoples were forced to decide between under colonization: assimilate or become an enemy of the Queen. I was a little confused why, outside of them also being gold, was Clara to trust in a miracle and give up her eyes for the bell? Her struggle over keeping her her sight was emphasized by a dream sent to her, where the aspect of her indigenous background  and Christian conversion collide. In expounding"...blood of the two races, blindness of the two races, tears of the two races" Clara is cursing her own cultural dichotomy, damned in either outcome of her decision by the institutions responsible. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive imagery, at times I felt that at times it took away from the clarity of the story, like all of this, that's just my perception as a reader. Clara, having sealed her fate, explains that her act of expunging her eyes with the nail of Jesus' crucifix was the mixing of sun, "the sun of her tenuous race sacrificed and sacrificing and Christ the Spaniard, brave and bloody." This announcement of her sacrifice as crossing of cultural boundaries is dominated by the sound of the bells being tolled, exemplifying how historically assimilation into Christianity overlooked and aimed to deafen the voices they exploit and discriminate against. 

Pongo's Dream emphasizes Spain's enforced caste system of colonial, feudal Peru  which was designed with the intention to pit sections of society against each other. I felt that Poncho's dream of holy retribution is told to his master in the most respectful and calm tone, which makes me want to see the reaction out of the master, but in reality if such a thing were said by a servant, the realistic outcome would be that person's story ending. However, it is said carefully in such contrast to the silence of pongo through the mistreatment and abuse inflicted to him by his master. The patient explanation of his dream is the crescendo of the story, and since José María Arguedas Altamirano aimed advocated for cultural autonomy, it makes sense. He wanted the reader to understand that even under the constraint of an enforced conversion into Catholic ideologies, as men these two would be treated as equals in heaven and the master, according to the book he prays to daily, will receive eternal suffering for the evil darkness within his soul during his lifetime. To me this story was more stylized for a general audience, especially since this is an adaptation which helped to fuel the peasant movements of the 1950s. 

Both legends recounted converted indigenous peoples narratives under the influence of Christian enforced colonialism. The abuse of class differences in these discriminatory colonial systems are delved into in these literary pieces of resistance in denouncing the exploitation of indigenous minds, cultures, and bodies. I am excited to learn more about the backgrounds of these stories and to learn the little things that I missed while reading. 

read full post >>

 Both The Legend of the Silent Bell and Pong's Dream demonstrate how the tenets of Christianity were used to justify the actions of colonists from Spain. Although characters wholeheartedly and respectfully believe in the catholic God in both stories, these indigenismo pieces critique religion as the monolithic and aggressive mechanism of Western cultural imperialism. Although not inherently evil, racial condemnation in Catholic practices and aim to convert the world, thus destroying culture of indigenous civilizations whose goods and materials are used to stimulate Spain's economy. 

In The Legend of the Silent Bell I believe the call of the church of Clarisas for citizen's precious metals as an act of personal faith represents the cultural sacrifice many indigenous peoples were forced to decide between under colonization: assimilate or become an enemy of the Queen. I was a little confused why, outside of them also being gold, was Clara to trust in a miracle and give up her eyes for the bell? Her struggle over keeping her her sight was emphasized by a dream sent to her, where the aspect of her indigenous background  and Christian conversion collide. In expounding"...blood of the two races, blindness of the two races, tears of the two races" Clara is cursing her own cultural dichotomy, damned in either outcome of her decision by the institutions responsible. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive imagery, at times I felt that at times it took away from the clarity of the story, like all of this, that's just my perception as a reader. Clara, having sealed her fate, explains that her act of expunging her eyes with the nail of Jesus' crucifix was the mixing of sun, "the sun of her tenuous race sacrificed and sacrificing and Christ the Spaniard, brave and bloody." This announcement of her sacrifice as crossing of cultural boundaries is dominated by the sound of the bells being tolled, exemplifying how historically assimilation into Christianity overlooked and aimed to deafen the voices they exploit and discriminate against. 

Pongo's Dream emphasizes Spain's enforced caste system of colonial, feudal Peru  which was designed with the intention to pit sections of society against each other. I felt that Poncho's dream of holy retribution is told to his master in the most respectful and calm tone, which makes me want to see the reaction out of the master, but in reality if such a thing were said by a servant, the realistic outcome would be that person's story ending. However, it is said carefully in such contrast to the silence of pongo through the mistreatment and abuse inflicted to him by his master. The patient explanation of his dream is the crescendo of the story, and since José María Arguedas Altamirano aimed advocated for cultural autonomy, it makes sense. He wanted the reader to understand that even under the constraint of an enforced conversion into Catholic ideologies, as men these two would be treated as equals in heaven and the master, according to the book he prays to daily, will receive eternal suffering for the evil darkness within his soul during his lifetime. To me this story was more stylized for a general audience, especially since this is an adaptation which helped to fuel the peasant movements of the 1950s. 

Both legends recounted converted indigenous peoples narratives under the influence of Christian enforced colonialism. The abuse of class differences in these discriminatory colonial systems are delved into in these literary pieces of resistance in denouncing the exploitation of indigenous minds, cultures, and bodies. I am excited to learn more about the backgrounds of these stories and to learn the little things that I missed while reading. 

read full post >>