Monday Draft Questions - Noah Krohngold

1. Laura E. Perez calls for an intellectual recolonization where the "hidden histories" of current and past cultures supersede the promotion of "spiritual emptiness" we see today through big business and institutional religion (Perez, 5-7). With cultural appropriation and general ignorance towards history being easily attainable in today's society, how much responsibility do artists carry when it comes to echoing the histories of struggle and injustice while also respectfully infusing their own culture into their medium? Has the spiritual element of art been removed from popular culture, and if so what impact has the loss of spirituality had on our society?

2. Many cultures see death as a particularly terrifying concept, but the roots of The Days of the Dead provide a much more loving twist to the concept, while retaining the somber tinge that comes with losing a loved one. How have healthcare industries around the world influenced the way we see nature and the afterlife (consider institutional religion and healthcare industries around the world)?

3. "Their social critique provokes the viewer to see the benign and often domesticated versions of the feminine in new ways" (Mesa-Bains, 308).

The rights of women have been largely contested throughout history, but in recent years we've seen significant activism in promoting the health and well-being of women as well as their autonomy without being constrained by male figures or government intervention. Amelia Mesa-Bains lists several prominent Chicana activists that have excellently nuanced ideas and arguments in her writing, yet many of these activists remain absent from most history books. What role do educational institutions, government entities, and businesses play in promoting activism and advocating for social change by following in the footsteps of these Chicana activists?