Cuyamaca College Death of A Farmer Worker

For this assignment, we will utilize a discussion forum, and we will devote some time discussing some of the themes and topics from the murals of San Diego’s iconic Chicano Park. After we observe the Chicano Park film later on in this session, each of you will then select one of the murals and provide a thoughtful and thorough discussion of that mural.

Please post your observations inside this Chicano Park mural discussion forum. I will provide the first discussion post, and all you just follow my example. After you post your comments, please be sure to reply to at least two of your classmates, and to me as well. As for choosing the specific mural you wish to discuss, here are several websites as well as the 1988 documentary devoted to the Chicano Park murals for reference. This is the documentary film that we will watch later on in the session.

Please select only one mural to discuss from the list below. Your forum comments (including your replies to your classmates and to “el maestro”) will count as 60% of your overall class grade.

In terms of the content of your discussion, I am looking for three main points of discussion. This discussion will satisfy the History Department’s Student Learning Outcome (SLO) assessment requirements. First, you will draft a thesis statement based on your observation of this mural. A thesis statement is something you would prove in a paper; a statement that can be supported by the mural you have reviewed. Your thesis statement should be about 5 sentences. In your thesis statement, address the following question: What was the artist’s objective in creating his/her mural and what does the mural reflect about the era in which this mural was created?

For the second point of discussion, name and describe one cause or consequence of an event associated with this mural. In other words, what were some of the historical or political events of the era that contributed to the development of the mural, or what do you think was the political or cultural impact of the mural in Chicano Park, San Diego, the state of California, or for the overall Chicano Movement? About one good-sized paragraph, up to ⅔ of a page, double-spaced, will be sufficient for your response.

And finally, for your third point of discussion, describe one historical individual involved in the event depicted in the mural and explain his or her significance in this event. In other words, why was this person significant? And by a historical individual, you may discuss the artist instead of any historical personalities presented in his or her mural. However, if there is a clear historical personality presented in the mural, I strongly encourage you to discuss that personality in your response. Even if the historical personality is a mythical figure, such as a god or goddess, you can discuss that too. About one good-sized paragraph, up to 3 pages, double-spaced, will be sufficient for your response.

PLEASE CHOOSE ONLY ONE MURAL TO DISCUSS.

“The Ball Player” (1981-82) by Vidal Aguirre.

“Chicano Park Takeover” (1978) by Guillermo Rosete et. al.

“Chicano Pinto Union” (1978) by Tony de Vargas.

“Chuco/Homeboy” (1975) by Felipe Adame.

“Collossus” (1975) by Congreso de Artistas Chicanos en Aztlán (CACA) .

“Cosmic Clowns” (1974) by CACA.

“Death of a Farm Worker” (1979) by Michael Schnorr and Susan Yamagata .

“Elders Mural” (1999) by Mario Torero and Victor Ochoa et. al.

“Handball Court Mural” (1996) by Alvaro Millán and guests

“Hasta la Bahía” (1978) by Victor Ochoa

“Hecho en Aztlán” (2000) by Victor Ochoa and Talent Search Students

“Huelga Eagle” (1978) by Raúl Espinosa and Michael Schnorr

“Inlakesh” (1975) by Juanishi Orosco and the Royal Chicano Air Force

“Insight” (1997) by Cheryl Lindley and Scott Kessler

“Itzcali Mural” (1997) by Victor Ochoa et. al.

“José Gómez” (1986) by Mario Torero and Tony de Vargas

“Kiosko-Founding of Tenochtitlán” (1978) by Vidal Aguirre and Felipe Adame

“La Adelita” (1978) by Felipe Adame

“La Flecha” (1997) by Mario Torero

“Leyes-La Familia” (1975) by Jose Montoya

“Liberación” (1997) by Maricela Romo

“Los Grandes” (1978) by Victor Ochoa and Renovation Team

“Marcha” (1996) by Victor Ochoa et. al.

“Mujer Cósmica” (1975) by Eleban Villa and Ricardo Favela

“Mural in Chicana Park” (1997) by Berenice Badillo

“Nascimiento de Parque Chicano/Astrological Mural” (1978) by Dolores Serrano

“No Retrofitting” (1995) by Mario Torero and Karmen Kalo