Week 3

Week 3 Readings: Lieutenant Nun and Casta Paintings

Lieutenant Nun was such a fascinating account to read. I find it incredible how she managed to keep herself in disguise for such a long period of time. It was interesting how she ran into different family members-first her father, and later her brother. Her story showcases that it was a “small world” in this […]

Casta Paintings and Lieutenant Nun

Casta Paintings
The Casta paintings proposed a grand question about latin american identity during the 17th century: Whether or not a Caste of social class existed based upon race. 
The controversies of social class and race within the European society had now entered a new dawn where the acceptance of interracial blooded people was now documented and displayed in the homes of the Elite, and in public settings. These paintings achieve to document the history of identity of the people of latin america which show the dynamic evolution of  interracial peoples instead of maintaining the static caste system which had previously existed based on race.  On the other hand the people portrayed in the paintings are given clear social positioning, “Spanish men are often portrayed as men of leisure or professionals, blacks and mulattos as coachmen, Indians as food vendors, and mestizos as tailors, shoemakers, and tobacconists. Mulattas and mestizas are often represented as cooks, spinners, and seamstresses.” It would be a historical lie if they were depicted in different positions, but it does show the progression towards equality. They make a very positive attempt to idealize domestic life and other social environments and show the peace between race. Returning to the question of identiy, many of the paintings clarify the names of the interracial peoples, “ Spaniards and Indians–mestizos, Spaniards and Blacks–mulattos, and Blacks and Indians–zambos.”
The article states that many owners of the Casta painting were those of the elite class, the high ranking. This furthermore suggests progression when compared to European Classical Art which only depicted the royal upper class and the elite. 
Lieutenant Nun
The memoir of Catalina de Erauso can be though of as a story of bravery with regards to feminine equality and direct violence. She was a girl who escaped the repeated cycles of feminine gender roles in spanish society.  Not succumbing to mistreatment, she was not afraid to leave a place behind in search for something better.   It is surprising however the great luck which crossed her path.  She was able to find herself work and shelter without difficulty.  Although she herself would not be mistreated, she was certainly not a freedom activist.  She contributed to many destructions of native land and people.  She appears to have no remorse for the murdering of the Chief and other men.  Living the life of a soldier Catalina was certainly a strong woman of her time. 

La Monja Alferez & the Casta painting

This excerpt from Catalina de Erauso’s memoir was indeed fascinating.The one question I kept having while reading the text was “What is she looking for?” De Erauso fled the convent and headed out into the world not knowing where exactly to go. But as s…

La Monja Alferez & the Casta painting

This excerpt from Catalina de Erauso’s memoir was indeed fascinating.The one question I kept having while reading the text was “What is she looking for?” De Erauso fled the convent and headed out into the world not knowing where exactly to go. But as s…

Lieutenant Nun and Casta Paintings

First impression about Lieutenant Nun was astonishing. I couldn’t imagine much more of an adventure story than this. The very idea of a woman that runs away from a monastery, dresses up like a man is worth a story, but … Continue reading

Lieutenant Nun and the Casta Paintings

Lieutenant NunI found the text on Catalina de Erauso to be quite interesting. For not only does it show us the viewpoint of a male soldier but a male soldier who is actually a woman. Starting as a nun Catalina already had a unique experience as most wo…

Lieutenant Nun and the Casta Paintings

Lieutenant NunI found the text on Catalina de Erauso to be quite interesting. For not only does it show us the viewpoint of a male soldier but a male soldier who is actually a woman. Starting as a nun Catalina already had a unique experience as most wo…

Lieutenant Nun and the Casta Paintings

Lieutenant NunI found the text on Catalina de Erauso to be quite interesting. For not only does it show us the viewpoint of a male soldier but a male soldier who is actually a woman. Starting as a nun Catalina already had a unique experience as most wo…

Casta Paintings and Lieutenant Nun

The Casta paintings represented a wide array of racial mixtures derived from the offspring of unions between Spaniards and Indians-mestizos, Blacks-mulattos, and Blacks and Indians-zambos. These paintings received numerous documented critiques throughout centuries. It appears that in the earlier centuries, the paintings were vastly criticized. Particularly in 1746, Dr. Andres Arce y Miranda found that […]

The Colonial Experience

After reading both readings, I was a bit confused about the Catholic religion, the dominant religion in Europe. On one hand in the 18th century, Casta Painting were considered to be offending according to Andrés Arce y Miranda as they would confirm creole inferiority assumptions. However, in the 17th century, gender switching was even exempted […]