Telling one ’tec from another,
Jan, 5 2007

Lecture, Ancient Cultures of Mexico by Guillermo Méndez Wednesday, January 10, 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? If this question has been on your mind lately, you may be interested in a lecture this week at the Santa Ana Theater. 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 the art, artifacts, and architecture of the four cultures.

For each culture, a distinguishing concept is given and discussed. The concepts help to differentiate one group from another. For example, the concept for the Olmecs is "The Mother Culture," for that is the role they played in Mesoamerican history. Most of the salient characteristics of later cultures were present in the Olmec several centuries before the year one in our Gregorian calendar.

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, Tenochtitlán, 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 reignited.

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.

Why Mexican homes are surrounded by walls

Lectures on Mexican culture by Beldon Butterfield

January 9, 11, 16, 18

Warren Hardy Spanish, San Rafael 6, US$5 per lecture

The Face Behind the Mask, Cross Culture and the Bubble Effect of San Miguel de Allende are just some of the subjects to be covered in a series of one-hour lectures at Warren Hardy Spanish. Malinchismo, machismo, and the real meaning of gringo will be discussed, along with the meaningfulness of words like ahorita, mi casa es su casa, a sus órdenes, bueno and the Mexican greeting known as el abrazo.

The lecturer is Beldon Butterfield, a graduate of Washington & Lee University with a B.A. in History and Political Theory. Originally from Argentina, Butterfield came to Mexico in 1962. He has lived in Mexico City, Guadalajara and San Miguel. 

For more information on signing up for the lectures contact Beldon Butterfield (152-8348; bbutterfield@towmar.com) or Tuli Hardy (154-4017). Lectures are held at Warren Hardy Spanish, San Rafael 6 (in front of San Juan de Dios Church). Cost is US$5 per lecture, or US$20 for all lectures.

What is reality?

Snowbird Symposium lecture, "Western vs. Indigenous 

Perspectives on Reality" by Dr. Elizabeth Palmer

Tuesday, January 9, 10:30am

Sala Quetzal, Biblioteca Pública, 50 pesos

Dr. Elizabeth Palmer will present an illustrated talk on "Western vs. Indigenous Perspectives on Reality" in the Center for Global Justice's Snowbird Symposium. "What is reality?" sounds like a very abstract, philosophical question. But when two different cultures with different world views confront one other, the question can become very concrete. Dr. Palmer is one who understands this well. She is a professor of psychology at Alverno College in Milwaukee and has conducted immersion programs for her students in Paraguay and other Latin American countries. Her extensive contacts with indigenous peoples have given her insights into a very different perspective on reality. That is something that can be appreciated by many North Americans who have come to live in Mexico with its strong indigenous roots. As we learn to live "on Mexican time" we begin to touch the surface of México profundo, as anthropologists have called it. Dr. Palmer will take us deeper into this alternative view in her illustrated talk.