In “The Rhetoric of the Object”, the author references a quote from Carol Duncan stating, “‘To control a museum is precisely to control the representation of community..’” (González 8) How does the idea of the home altar functioning as an aspect of autotopography (museum of the self) allow females in the Chicano community to be more empowered?
In the article about Ofelia Esparza, she discusses the idea of humans having 3 distinct deaths: when we take our last breath, when we’re buried, and when we’re forgotten. Is this line of thinking apparent in other cultures with wanting to keep the legacy of a loved one alive through remembrance and honor in some way? Or, is this celebration of life unique to Latin American cultures?
In the "NEA National Heritage Tribute Video: Ofelia Esparza", Esparza's daughter mentions the "oral tradition" passed on through generations during the construction of the altars where they share stories of loved ones that they’re honoring (2:15). In this sense, a large part of the meaningfulness an altar has is due to the memory that lives on through discussions between living family members during the process of creating the altar. Is an altar more meaningful if it was constructed by multiple people than if it was constructed by one person alone?
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