Analysis Of Spanish Colonialism And Aztecs - 908 Words

The essay ‘â€Å"Their Cortà ©s and Our Cortà ©s†: Spanish Colonialism and Aztec Representation† by Michael Schreffler argues that â€Å" . . . early modern rhetoric and iconography . . . constructed a distorted view of painting in Aztec Mexico and entangled it in the conventions of colonial historiography† (407). This essay is effective because of its thorough examination of the accounts that explain a painting made by the Aztec’s at San Juan de Ulà ºa on Easter Sunday of 1519. Schreffler begins the essay by explaining Bernal Dà ­az del Castillo’s account of San Juan de Ulà ºa on Easter Sunday of 1519. Dà ­az explains that Tendile (an Aztec leader) ordered his people to produce a painting of Cortà ©s, his entourage, and his ship. Unfortunately, this painting†¦show more content†¦After giving the reader some context, Schreffler states his thesis. This was an effective way for him to present his introductory information because it successfully leads the reader into the rest of the essay. Schreffler also utilizes subtopics to organize his ideas. He includes four subtopics to indicate that he will be introducing a new idea. Each subtopic contains information relevant to that topic. For example, Schreffler’s second subtopic concerns a phrase that Dà ­az and Là ³pez de Gà ³mara use to describe the painting. The paragraphs about this phrase examine the following ideas: Là ³pez de Gà ³mara’s version of the event was not based off of Cortà ©s’s first letter to the king, other possible influences on Là ³pez de Gà ³mara’s description of the painting, Là ³pez de Gà ³mara’s influence on Dà ­az’s account/ their use of the phrase, possible meaning of the phrase, and how Guevara’s description of art in the Americas intensely differs from the accounts of Là ³pez de Gà ³mara and Dà ­az. Each of Schreffler’s paragraphs allude to the subtopic which ultimately supports the main argument. Because Schreffler is arguing that Dà ­az, Là ³pez de Gà ³ma ra, Solà ­s and Gonzà ¡lez created a misconstrued view of Aztec painting, imagery is a vital component of this essay. The visuals strengthen his argument by giving viewers a clear sense of the difference between typical Aztec panting and the painting that the accounts describe. For example, Schreffler includes two images of paintings done by theShow MoreRelatedLa Otra Conquista Review Reaction Paper2997 Words   |  12 Pagescultural imposition on the Aztec civilization and how colonialism was able to shape them into the people that they are today. Before continuing on, it is worth to note that there are certain similarities between the Aztec civilization and the pre-colonial Philippines, which were both Spanish colonies at one point in time. They both worshipped deities from nature, and were seen as barbarians by the Spanish conquistadores. 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