Four “unifying” cultures of ancient Mexico,
Feb 16, 2007
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Ancient Cultures of Mexico I with Guillermo Méndez Wed, Feb 21, 3pm Teatro Santa Ana, Insurgentes 25 50 pesos |
Aztec, Toltec, Mixtec, Zapotec—we know they were some of the great cultures of ancient Mexico, but how the heck can you tell one ’tec from another? Retired professor of Humanities Guillermo Méndez examines four major pre-Hispanic Mexican cultures described by one Mesoamerican scholar as the four “unifying forces” in ancient Mexico: the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Toltec and Aztec civilizations. The lecture is illustrated with over 200 digital images of art, artifacts and architecture.
The ancient cultures of Mexico shared a unique calendar that combined a 365-day solar calendar and a 260-day ritual calendar. This combination of calendars did not repeat until 52 years had passed. Thus, 52-year “centuries” acquired considerable importance in the cosmic expectations of the Aztecs, for example, demanding vital rituals like the “new fire ceremony.” Every 52 years, all the fires in the Aztec capital city, Tenochtitlan, were extinguished. On a hilltop outside of the city a “new fire” was started on the chest of a soon-to-be-sacrified person. From the new fire all the extinguished fires of the city were re-ignited.
Each of the four cultures had its own style in art and architecture. Distinguishing visual images are presented that characterize each culture. In the case of the Olmecs, the colossal heads carved of basalt are discussed, and the unique were-jaguar images—many carved from jadeite—are examined and interpreted.
A second lecture the following week, using the same format, presents the Zapotec, Maya, Classic Veracruz and Mixtec cultures.
Panel discusses neo-liberal globalization
Neo-liberal globalization
Wed, Feb 21, 10:30am
Sala Quetzal
50 pesos
“Globalization” is one of the buzzwords of our times. We live in a globalizing world, we are told. But what exactly is globalization? Is it the internet and satellite TV that enables expats living in San Miguel to watch their favorite US television shows? Is it being able to eat Big Macs in almost every country on earth? Is it poor peasants in Mexico wearing US Levi jeans that were made in Singapore?
Is the whole world becoming Americanized? Cultural homogenization is certainly a part of globalization. But lying behind that is the growing weight of gigantic transnational corporations that oversee global assembly lines and financial circuits that know no national boundaries or loyalties. Of the 100 largest economies in the world, 49 of them are not countries, but corporations. And they grow in wealth every year. In 2006 Exxon-Mobil reported profits of $39.5 billion.
The economic philosophy that has guided this rush of corporate globalization is known as neo-liberalism. What is “neo-liberalism,” and how does that differ from just plain liberalism? Are neo-liberals the same as neo-conservatives? Does neo-liberal globalization amount to a new kind of imperialism? Is there any other kind of globalization besides the corporate variety we see today?
These are the questions that are addressed by a panel of researchers from the Center for Global Justice: Dr. Cliff DuRand, Dr. Betsy Bowman and Arturo Yarish.
Bringing the state back in
“Human Development: Kerala-Cuba Comparisons”
Joe Tharamangalam
Fri, Feb 23, 10:30am
Sala Quetzal, Biblioteca Pública
50 pesos
How is development to be measured? By the size of a country’s gross national product or by the human development of its people?
Kerala is a small state in southwest India with a population of 32 million. Even though it is poor economically, it is on a par with many developed countries in literacy, life expectancy and general well-being. Al Gore has called it a “stunning success” in human development.
Closer to home, in many ways Cuba is also a stunning success in human development with educational and health levels that are the envy of many far richer countries.
It is such success stories that have led sociologist Joe Tharamangalam to conclude that “substantial improvements in people’s lives can be achieved without necessarily accumulating a lot of wealth or even much economic growth.” This is the lesson he illustrates in “Human Development: Kerala-Cuba Comparisons.” He is a professor at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he heads up a major research project looking at Kerala and Cuba.
Lecture
The Fall of Rome
Geoff Hargreaves
Sat, Feb 17, 7pm
Museo Histórico
Cuna de Allende 1
Free (Lecture in Spanish)
Friends of the San Miguel Museum invite the public to a free lecture on ancient history with Geoff Hargreaves speaking on the Fall of Rome. The lecture is in Spanish.