Frida K. Mex Art (English)

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Frida Kahlo and the Art of the Mexican Revolution (in English): Frida Kahlo is one of the most highly respected women artists of the twentieth century. She has become an international icon, her face appearing on everything from kitchen magnets to mouse pads and tee shirts. In this course we will study Frida Kahlo in the context of post-Revolutionary Mexico. The first part of the course will focus on the Mexican Revolution and the artists it inspired, in particular Diego Rivera, Kahlo’s husband. In the second part we will study Kahlo’s art—her self-representation, use of symbols, incorporation of Mexican folk art, palette and techniques. We will examine her feminism as expressed through her rebellion against the patriarchal society of her time, her career, her bisexuality, and her politics. We will draw from biographies, fiction, film and art, as well as Frida’s own writing. We will also examine the “Fridamania” phenomenon in the U.S. and Western Europe. The third part of the course will explore the ways in which Kahlo has inspired other artists—painters, filmmakers, and novelists such as Barbara Kingsolver. Activities will include viewing films and visiting the Museum of Women in the Arts. Students will give oral reports and write three short papers and a term paper. This course meets the Humanities Writing II requirement (HUMW II) and counts toward the Spanish major and minor.