Mestizaje(s).

Abstract

Latin America has forged a collective identity across its diverse nations by emphasizing mestizaje—the cultural, 'racial’, or ethnic blending resulting from Spanish and Portuguese colonialism—as a defining characteristic. This concept has profoundly influenced notions of gender, race, and class throughout the region. This  dissertation examines oder explores how social segregation and categorization, articulated in the concept of mestizaje, are enforced and perpetuated through visual vocabularies. Rather than  celebrating interculturalism, as it is commonly portrayed, mestizaje is deeply rooted in racial discourses that perpetuate discrimination against the ‘non-mixed’, such as indigenous peoples and foreigners. In its political dimension, it turns into a strategy of 'whitening' the
population rather than a genuine call for inclusivity. My dissertation examines the visual cultures associated with mestizaje, exploring both its oppressive and liberating aspects.

Short biography

Mariel Rodríguez is a visual artist, cultural scientist, and curator. Her artistic practice is theoretically driven, it addresses identity  constructions and issues of representation with an intersectional perspective. She studied Humanities in Mexiko and Critical Studies in Vienna. Since 2020 she has been working as a university  assistant for Artistic Research at the University of Arts in Linz.
Website