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

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 Chavez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5NQdd_rvnM

Lyrics of Los Tigres Del Norte Cesar Chavez No 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 States But 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 States Cesar 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

What moment of Mexican history do you think this mural is representing? What is the message the artist is trying to convey? How would you celebrate this moment in a corrido? Create a 3-4 verse song to convey the important message of this image.

What is the message the artist is trying to convey? How would you celebrate this moment in a corrido? Create a 3-4 verse song to convey the important message of this image. What moment of Mexican history do you think this mural is representing?

What moment of Mexican history do you think this mural is representing? What is the message the artist is trying to convey? How would you celebrate this moment in a corrido? Create a 3-4 verse song to convey the important message of this image.

What is the message the artist is trying to convey? How would you celebrate this moment in a corrido? Create a 3-4 verse song to convey the important message of this image. What moment of Mexican history do you think this mural is representing?

What moment of Mexican history do you think this mural is representing? How would you celebrate this moment in a corrido? Create a 3-4 verse song to convey the important message of this image. What is the message the artist is trying to convey?

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?