Aztec Masks

The Aztec masks are beautiful creations illustrating their deep convictions for their gods because they utilized jade, their most valuable mineral, in the masks construction.  The Aztecs like modern day people seem to have recognized the necessity to separate their personal lives from their public lives.  I would imagine that the King and Religious leaders invoked the masks in order to present themselves as the living form of whatever deities masks they were wearing.  I find it interesting that the use of such masks was seen by the people as the connection between the real and supernatural world as if their leaders were really incarnates of the gods during ceremonies.

We most certainly wear masks in our daily lives.  I know that I compartmentalize the daily facets of my life putting on different faces in order to interact in society each day.  I suppose that it is a survival instinct in the form of a defense mechanism being mentally aware that we are in the "urban jungle". 

Andean Worldview and their belief in Essence over Appearance

The Andean worldview is a complex mixture of different societal norms that can be best categorized into four different areas: Collectivity, reciprocity, transformation and essence.  I find it interesting that the first area revolves around the concept of the good of the many outweighs the good of the few.  Not just interesting but contradictory as it seems that the Andean culture was highly segmented with the political and economic leaders and then everyone else beneath.  To me this is a typical means of social control over a large population where the notion of the individual must be destroyed in order to maintain order over chaos allowing the ruling elite to continue their leadership roles.  Looking at the concept of the collective nature of art this principle seems to remain true.   Artists did not extol their individuality on their artwork rather it was considered a part of the Andean culture where no one individual would take credit.  Although as the book points out styles were unique and certain pieces can be indentified to a particular style or person.

A second world view is the idea of reciprocity where in the Incan definition two opposites are interconnected and countered by each other.  In Andean art this is best depicted through the use of light and dark, where as they are on completely different sides of the visual spectrum, polar opposite, but they are connected as light cannot exist without dark.  I find this to be a perplexing view as even today's most talented physicists are struggling to make sense of this concept. 

Transformation is a universally held belief throughout the modern and past societies.  Most civilizations have recognized transformation through the human life cycle, growing seasons, the movement of celestial bodies and so forth.  In the Andean tradition the shaman played a critical role in the understanding of transformation. Shamans were the bridge between the real and the supernatural world.  Shamans would enter into trances leaving their human form and changing into the form of animals and supernatural beings.  Again the scientific community even has theories that may substantiate a belief the Andeans had, that of multiple dimensions which humans can travel to if the appropriate level of understanding is gained.

The concept of essence is a peculiar concept especially to western educated people.  I know that most of my educational upbringing was epitomized with gaining an outcome, a result rather than focusing on the process that brought you the result.   In the corporate world I was coached to focus more on the process in order to achieve the desired outcome primarily for economic reasons.  So what I find interesting in Andean tradition is their intense focus on the process while creating a piece of art rather than focusing on any particular outcome.  This infers incredible insight into the human psyche as the process of creating something will lead you to a conclusion naturally that is not premeditated.  As the book points out while working with metal the alloys will mold themselves.  Further those humans may not have been the primary audience for the art but the subconscious of humans or that of supernatural beings.

I find the concept of essence over appearance incredibly appealing and in my landscaping business I found myself sometimes not having a plan but a simple vision and allowing myself to “go with the flow” so to speak and let the process of creativity take its course.  Amazingly enough the jobs I took this approach on were successful in all regards and the homeowners amazed at the creativity.  I also find Pollock’s paintings and his use of essence over appearance phenomenal.  The use of fractal theory and the naturally geometric patterns that occur throughout nature are phenomenal.  The idea of organized chaos is an idea that is hard to wrap one’s head around especially as we have been taught to think of the world in concrete explainable format rather than that of a random chaotic mixing together of elements that created random creatures such as ourselves.

Modern Mayan Culture

The Mayan culture in my experience has been stereotyped as inferior and unable to adapt to modern conditions.   The mestizo and Spanish populations have for the most part isolated the native population from participation in the modern economy and social classes, seemingly leaving them left to exist in the realm of poverty and an almost slave-labor class.   The plight of the population is horrible.  The concept of equal opportunity, where as skill, intelligence and character are determined by the individual not by the ethnicity of a group of people seems to need to be fought for in modern day Meso-America.   The concept of individuality and equal opportunity if embraced, as it has been in the United States, might help to break the barriers of ethnic stereotypes in Mexico and Central America.

From an anthropological point of view the term “Race” is a misnomer, I prefer to look at the different ethnicities or local identities.   Certainly the exclusion of particular ethnicities is an aspect of human culture that has reigned supreme since civilization was founded.   The labeling of other ethnicities and cultures as inferior, weak or barbaric was typically a precursor to rationalization for removing an indigenous culture from their native lands often leading to war, slavery and genocide.    In the modern day society, especially in the United States and Europe there has been a movement to separate ethnic stereotypes allowing for equal opportunity; both socially and economically; based upon the individuals character and motivation.   Although there are still prejudices among the US population its prevalence is dissipating and such views are typically shunned by the majority of the population.  

Although I do believe in maintaining and recognizing an individual’s ethnic identity, as it can be a source of pride and community coalescence, I believe that the extreme emphasis on an individual culture within our society can be quite detrimental.     Ethnic tensions can arise when there are no shared values or goals for making the society better.   In some instance it seems as if identification of belonging to one ethnicity or another has started to preempt the individual skill, moral fiber and character being replaced with an ethnic identity which creates divisiveness and hostility.  There is a fine balance between the recognition and celebration of ethnicity and the stigmatizing of ethnic groups in a negative fashion dis-allowing equal opportunity in our diverse society.

The Yucatan Peninsula, Art History Blog 1

In early 2001 I spent nearly two weeks in the Yucatan Peninsula exploring the ancient ruins strewn throughout the area.  I explored the popular, Chichen Itza, Coba, Tulum as well as some less well known pyramids and cenotes (underground rivers).   While watching National Geographic documentaries of the area, the true impressive nature of the past native cultures is not felt until you physically visit the areas.  Chichen Itza is a magnificent monument that espouses the sheer power of the culture that built the temples.   Chichen Itza itself when you walk onto the ground is powerful and inspiring; the recognition that the cultures that built these massive temples were much more advanced then modern society grants them.   The complex social, economic and political infrastructure that would be needed in order to build such monuments sets in quickly.   Not only the architectural significant but the shear man power and time to build the great pyramids on the Yucatán peninsula are breath taking.  

The reverence for the natural process surround the Mayans in depicted in their monuments and statues, they understood they were simply inhabitants of their land not the whole owners of it.   Their heavy reliance and deep religious beliefs in natural deities also brought out about the sinister nature of mankind with stained sacrificial altars still exhibiting the massive bloodshed that took place.   

I was greatly saddened though as I drove my rental jeep throughout the Yucatan of how poverty and the reverence for nature by modern day Mayans has seemed to have passed.   At the time the teaching, speaking, reading and writing of the Mayan language was a crime and the living conditions of the natives was putrid at best.    The culture that seems to have praised their natural world in their past today sees their villages and roadsides littered with an abundance of plastic bottles and raw trash.   The plight of the local indigenous population of the Yucatan is a sad sight which at times took precedence over the impressive monuments of their distant culture.    

Although in my two weeks in the Yucatan p3eninsula I was somewhat shocked by the living conditions and state of the environment, I was amazed by the resilience and continued Mayan culture that some of the locals exhibit,  stepping away from the more tourist centered areas I found a rich culture that still adheres to many of the Mayan beliefs.  I was able to witness several young men rehearsing for a ceremony dressed in Mayan war garb, complete with body paint, headdresses and clothing adorned with feathers.   It is a shame that the Mexican government insists on suppressing their distant past as it is should be a source of great national pride which if embraced may be a source of new invigoration and economic spirit which can help bring the impoverished area new hope bringing from the shadows a great tradition of culture and art that has been suppressed since the Mayan culture faded into history.