Revolutionary Murals and Corridos

Capturing Mexican Independence and Revolution through Visual Arts

and Song

Why Art?

• Art is a record of the “spirit of the time” it was created and a way that people can reflect about their past.

• For most of human history, the vast majority of humanity has been illiterate so visual and auditory art takes on additional importance because they were the only mediums that could have mass appeal

• In today’s lesson we are going to look more closely at two art forms that are popular amongst Mexican artists: the mural and to corrido.

What is a Mural

• A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.

• Murals were often used by Mexican artists to represent key moments in their history to reach a semi-literate population

Mural 1

Mural 2

Mural 3

Mural 4

Mural 5

Corridos

• The corrido is a popular narrative song and poetry form, a ballad. The songs are often about oppression, history, daily life for peasants, and other socially relevant topics.

• Mexican musicians often created corridos to celebrate key moments in Mexican history.

• Here is a sample of one about Cesar Chavezhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5NQdd_rvnM

Lyrics of Los Tigres Del Norte Cesar ChavezNo one who defended the peasant Neither knew the slightest right And as a human right did not exist And even if you do not want to believe dear friend This happened in the United StatesBut the leader of the United Farm Workers Twenty-five days was uneaten And like neighboring states California finally had to give in

And even if you do not want to believe dear friend This happened in the United StatesCesar Chavez Cesar Chavez leader The farmers are afraid I do not need guns or knife But their demands were granted Twenty-four days in the seventy-five Enact agricultural law were worth

But when the contracts expired Employers and other unions allied themselves And vile led police And with the blood of innocent mopped

And even if you do not want to believe dear friend This happened in the United States

Protesting against disinfectants Chavez does strike a third time Wanting to save his fellows see The life almost had to lose

And even if you do not want to believe dear friend This happened in the United States

Cesar Chavez Cesar Chavez Cesar Chavez Like Luther King Ghandy and I will liken In case you did not know already know You have a place in heaven paragraph And in your honor have birds singing one day When the field is no longer contaminated

Your Task

1. Thinking about the mural you analyzed, how would you celebrate this moment in a corrido?

2. Create a 3-4 verse song to convey the important message of this image, by making the mural/event/person the focus.

3. Use technology if needed to add more information about your chosen historical figure.

4. Be prepared to perform it in front of the class

Background Corrido Instrumental

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMNrPCoPei8

Question for Discussion• What are the strengths of music over visual arts in

conveying messages about a nation’s past?• What are the weaknesses?• What are the events and values that are being

captured in modern music? Try to give some real life examples.

• What more can we learn from art as historical sources (primary or secondary) that we can’t from others?

• What are the limitations of art as a historical source?