My Graphic design thesis

Historically, culturally, and economically, for good and bad, the histories of Mexico and the United States were wrapped together like pieces of cellophane. "
- Octavio Paz

My thesis consisted of redesigning traditional Mexican nichos by using different mediums that are associated to graphic design. The content inside the boxes is a narration of the construction of my Mexican-American culture within Mexico, Texas and New York. Each box represents a different moment from birth to present time; with the exception of three boxes that reflect on social problems arising at the Mexico and U.S. border. The author Gloria Anzaldua speaks of the the cultural and biological cross-pollination as "a new mestiza consciousness." I want to represent this Mexican American "consciousness" as a synthesis of the old world and the new, the conquerors and the conquered, the mystical and the rational. with a tolerance for ambiguity.

1.PAPIS: The silhouette represents my parent's plan of my birth in the United States in hope of a better future. The surroundings represent Mexico City and it's mestizo culture as well as symbols from the Azteca-Mexica culture. Some of the symbols consist of Coatlalopeuh "Serpent Skirt" which is La Virgen de Guadalupe 's Indian name. She is the central deity connecting the Mexicans to their Indian ancestry. She descended from earlier Mesoamerican fertility and Earth goddesses. Another goddess named Tonantsi was worshiped as well by the Nahuas. They pray for their health and the growth of their crops. It was believed that she gave Mexico the cactus plant to provide her people with milk and pulque.

2. MAMI: The body is my mother and the baby represents me. The outer drawings represent the flow of plans with my birth in Texas. The Eagle represents the United States; other symbols are Catholicism, the Aztec sun and the Virgin Mary.

3. ALPES: This is the Private All girls Catholic school I went to in Saltillo, Coahuila Mexico. The details are very personal; such as my mother, grandparents, staff, school friends, and teachers. The eagle and snake are a representation of my spiritual roots juxtaposed with the imposed Catholicism. A member of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation ( a revolutionary group based in Chiapas) is at the bottom right corner. Their struggle happened at this time and was about control over their own resources, particularly the land on which they live. I want to emphasize the fact that Indigeneous people in Mexico have been oppressed and continue to be.

4. TRANSITION: This represents the synergy of two cultures when I moved to Laredo, Texas. The acculturation of the pocho culture and the balancing of traditional versus modern feminist roles. The river divides the two cities in which I spent most of my young childhood. The Flag that I am carrying has hamburgers and hot dogs instead of the stars and stripes. The skirt portrays the war fought over the Mexican-American border and the Treaty of Guadalupe.

5. VIRGIN MARY: She is considered the patron saint of the Chicanos and Mexicans. Coatlalopeuh became La Virgen de Guadalupe after the Spanish Conquest. She was desexed by getting the serpent (sexuality) out of her and making her a chaste virgin. The Tonantsi became this Guadalupe, defender of the Mexican people. The serpent is a symbol of the indigeneous religion. Her image today is more venerated than Jesus or God. The Virgin is decontextualized by placing her in the United States as someone who is living the "American Dream" and calling attention to consumerism.

6. RONALD: McDonald's icon was placed out of context again in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. He represents the kids on the streets doing whatever they can for money. The sun is Jesus Christ representing Mexican people's strong faith.

7. NARCOS: This is a toast to a transaction being made by the Mexican Chief of Police and a leading drug dealer from the Mexican border. This represents the violence that took place in Nuevo Laredo when the drug dealers bought out the police and did what they wanted with the city. The painting in the middle is Jesús Malverde; known as the "narco-saint" and is a folklore hero in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. He is celebrated in both Mexico and the United States, particularly among those involved in drug trafficking. However, he is not officially recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.

8. LUCHADORA: This is myself in the present ( New York). The suit represents the beginning of my professional career surrounded by both my cultures. The mask symbolizes my Mexican traditions and morals that I have kept and how they intertwine with the new adopted ones.
The beliefs of the ancient Aztecs are visible through metaphors. They are displayed here above, which symbolizes the gods and spirit world; also known as topan. Lastly, below is the underworld and the region of the dead, known as mictlan.

---close up of images coming soon.....
would love to get opinions on it