Olivas 1

Olivas, Alexis

Professor Batty

English 101

29 May 2017

Mural Mural on the Wall; Rancheras

Murals contain a hidden point other than for artistic appeal or to fill up an empty space.

Murals go back in human history with the drawings made in caves during the cavemen era.

These particular murals hold stories and memories. In another sense, they were there to remind

the future generations of their endeavors and experiences. The I chose mural carries a social

point, through a particular kind of music important in Mexican culture (Rancheras), that the

artist, Ismael Cazarez a person with Hispanic roots (Mural), believed should be remembered and

carried on. In addition, the mural also transmits the joy through the music giving off a positive

impact/effect to the community and eventually convincing them to start to enjoy Rancheras

either once again or for the first time.

In this mural, the background seems to be filled up with blue and green colors. Among

the things drawn in the background are old cars, a family holding hands in the upper right hand

corner and musicians. There are four musicians in this mural which are one man playing the

violin, another man playing the guitar and a last man playing the accordion; all currently listed in

the order which they appear on the mural from left to right. They are all on the left side of the

mural. The seem to just be part of the background due to the dark shadowing. The fourth

musician is a female singer who is painted right in the center of the mural. This placement on the

mural brings more attention to her than anything else. Along her left side are a man with a drink
 Olivas 2

in one hand and his son sitting next to him while both smiling listening and watching the woman

sing. On the bottom right hand corner there is a man and a woman happily dancing along. All

this seems to show that the mural is based on a musical aspect. Most of the things drawn in the

mural are related to the music being played. It is seen through the fact that a father and his son

are listening to the woman sing and that there is also a couple dancing. This mural was made to

be used as socially engaging art (Kordic) and to depict the community and the culture of that

particular environment.

There is symbolism and meaning behind the murals content mentioned in the paragraph

above. The color blue is associated with meanings such as sadness, reflection and hope

(Halvorsen). The color green is associated with meanings such as faith, sympathy, and hope as

well (Halvorsen). All these meanings go back to how the artist might be trying to transmit the

sadness about how Mexican culture is being forgotten. He is reflecting back on the joy that

Rancheras bring and is trying to show that he has hope that the communitys culture will be

remembered and embraced. As for the woman being the one in the center of the mural, that is

referred to as center of interest and focal point (Albert). The center of interest is the part of the

mural that attracts the mind and a focal point is the area of the mural that attracts the eye. By

putting the woman as the center of attention it could be said that the significance of a woman in

the Latino culture is being showed. A woman in the Latino community are the ones who keep

families together, take care of children and most importantly are the ones who carry the culture

on and instill it on others.

This mural is showing a scene where Rancheras are being played. This particular kind of

music is depicted through the instruments each musician is playing and how it shows signs of
 Olivas 3

livelihood. As an article titled Ranchera Music from a website called donQuijote explains

that ranchera music is recognized through its use of certain instruments such as guitars,

accordions, and voice. This article also states that Rancheras is a style of music that helps

characterize Mexican identity. This particular genre of music is a big part of Mexican culture.

Ranchera music has helped define cultural traditions employing universal themes from Mexican

society as well. It does this by telling stories that vary between sorrowful and happy ones. This

music embraces rural themes and when listening to it gives a small sense of Mexican

romanticism and traditions related to love and such. Rancheras create an important link between

its people and their nationality/country.

All in all, I believe that this mural carries a social point which is that Hispanic people are

straying away from what makes them who they are. Also, that they are beginning to forget a very

significant part of their hispanic culture. In addition, I think that this mural was put in a Latino

community/environment so that it can be both artistically enjoyed through the reminiscing of our

elders and also so that when people see it they are reminded, in essence, of their roots. In other

words it shows as a reminder to them of where they came from. It serves as a calling of ancestry.

In my point of view the artist chose to depict this particular music genre because it carries with it

so much Mexican culture and history. This mural is asking for a connection with the culture to

ignite among the community through music as a starting point and to later lead them off to

enjoying the other wonders of the Mexican/Hispanic culture as well.

 Olivas 4

Works Cited

Kordic, Angie. "Mural. The History and The Meaning." WideWalls. Urban & Contemporary Art

Resource, 2017. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.

"Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles." Ismael Cazarez | Mural Conservancy of Los

Angeles. Unknown, 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.

Ranchera Music." DonQuijote. NAFSA, 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.

Halvorsen, Kjersten, and Mica Steele. "Color Symbolism Chart | Color Meanings Chart | Color

Charts." Art Therapy. Art Therapy, n.d. Web. 29 May 2017.

Albert, Greg. "Focal Point Vs. Center of Interest." Artist's Network. WetCanvas, 29 Jan. 2008.

Web. 29 May 2017.

 Olivas 5

Appendix