Monday Draft Questions - Sarah Yang

1. In “Rhetoric of the Object: Material Memory and the Artwork of Amalia Mesa-Bains”, Jennifer Gonzalez notes that “the search for, and creation of, more socially relevant spiritual beliefs and practices have characterized the last four decases” from not just the United States, but people around the world  (92). What are some examples of this and how has it changed global society? How has it influenced us politically, socially, and in media and art?  
2. Jennifer Gonzalez penned that “if anything can be learned from the effects of the massive technological media environment of the West, it is that the passionate ornaments of rhetoric wield far more power than the “proper” state of an “inert” language” (Rhetoric of the Object, 88). How do you interpret this? What does this mean in the context of our society and social justice movements? 
3. In the Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum interview, Ofelia Esparza said that an important part of el Dia de Los Muerto is that “we honor them not how they died, but how they lived or how they were loved” (1:35). How does this sentiment reflect in Latino culture as a whole? Are there any aspects that reflect this belief in Western culture, and what does this signify when comparing the two cultures?