New world, Old Woman

"Far, very far, from that Serra which purples the horizon, was born Iracema." (Alencar, Pg. 9)

Iracema reminds me of these three pictures from the text book. 

"Iracema left from the bath. Pearl drops of water stood upon her..." (Alencar, Pg. 9)

This picture reminds me of Iracema for obvious reasons. The reason I include this picture is because I feel like the concept of bathing in the woods or jungle is something that was very typical of the "untouched" culture in which Iracema is depicted. I feel it is symbolic of innocence and cleanliness from the pollution of the civilized European world.

 "the bather", Juan Corderro

"the Huntress of the Andes", Felipe Gutierrez

"Rapid as her eye-glance was the reaction of Iracema. An arrow shot from the bow..."
 (Alencar, Pg. 10)

Iracema was obviously a warrior or hunter of some sort. She had qualities that most European women did not possess. To me this picture portrays that art primarily lost from the pristine place in which Iracema lived when the Europeans came to Latin America. I can't tell if this "Huntress" is dead, but if she is I interpret that as being symbolic of the loss of this part of the culture.

"Paraguay: Image of Your Desolate Country", Juan Manuel Blanes.

 Finally, I draw parallels between this picture and Iracema because in the end of many of these pristine cultures we find destruction and desolation. As with the Aztecs, Mayans, and many other indigenous people.















I have had a realization since reading and learning about Iracema. I have realized that this story, a story of a place that is beautiful, natural, pristine, and uncorrupted by the modern world. This story has been illustrated over and over again by woman.

This is a video of Pocahontas meeting John Smith. Pocahontas is like Iracema, she lives in a pristine world uncorrupted by the modern society of Europe. I find this clip very interesting because it is the first time she meets John Smith, it is very much like the meeting of Iracema and Martin, except Pocahontas does not shoot John Smith in the face with an arrow.

 John Smith and Pocahontas meeting is very symbolic of the connection between he culture and his, the collision of their two different worlds. The modernized European world and the "New World".

Another example made by Disney is the movie "Atlantis" in which a young American male is in search of the lost city of Atlantis. He finds the indigenous people of the city and of course connects with a woman in the society who bridges the gap for him into her culture, just like pocahontas, La Malinche, and Iracema.

A similar story again is Avatar, as seen in class.

Tarzan and Jane is the same story, just flip flopped.