Suggested Study Questions for : MEXICO IN SEARCH OF ITSELF

CORE Lecture May 16-17

Juan Bruce-Novoa

1. How and when did Mexico lose 50% of its national territory?

2. How can Mexico's national development in the 19^th century be read in terms of the Local/Global dynamic?

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3. While imitating European artists, how did Mexican painters nationalize their art?

1.Spanish . . . US

2.Colonial Character

4. What were the goals of the authors of México a través de los siglos?

5. How does the cover of México a través de los siglos convey the dialogue between the Mexican pre-Columbian indigenous base and its modern European-based culture?

6. What is meant by a mestizo nation?

7. How did World Fairs constitute a stage for performing nationalism and modernity?

8. Discuss the Mexican Pavilion for the 1889 Paris Exposition as an expression of Porfirista ideology.

9. How is Urbanism and City planning a way of performing modernity?

10. What was the difference among the British, U.S., and French models of urban development as discussed in the lecture.

11. Why did liberal Mexican intellectuals question the use of Gothic architecture in their country?

12. How did population growth force urban development in 19^th Century Mexico?

13. What intervention by Emperor Maximilian catalyze and orient Mexico City's expansion in the second half of the 19^th century?

14. What is El Caballito? Why is it so significant in the Mexico City landscape?

15. What signs of pre-Columbianism appeared in Mexico City's city plan?

16. What style did the Porfirista government support in the construction that led up to the centennial celebration of national independence.

17. What change in the Caballito traffic circle at the start of the 20^th century can be read as an official change in support for Pre-Columbianism in urbanization projects?

18. How was the Paseo de la Reforma turned into a History Museum of nationalism?

19. How can we read Herrán’s painting of the construction worker's family as a national allegory? How did it reflect the Porfirista self-image?

20. What would end the Pax Porfiriana?

21. How does the first chapter of The Underdogs dialogue with Herrán’s painting and the importance building and architecture had in the creation of modern Mexico?