Día de los Muertos Ofrenda - Critique essays

DÃ ­a de los Muertos Ofrenda - Critique essays The altar I will be critiquing is placed in Special Collections at UTPA library. George Gause, UTPA Archivist, lend his collection of DÃ ­a de los Muertos artifacts to be used in the altar and surrounding areas. The special Collections work-studys set up the altar. The altar is three tier high looks as if three crates of different sizes were placed in the bottom. When looking at the altar no one can tell whos dearly departed it is intended for. With no pictures and nothing specific to a gender it is difficult to say which items the departed was fond of. All major areas besides the picture were included by Special Collection work-studys. On all three tiers you find candles the belief is the candle will allow the departed to find their way home. Also found were objects made from sugar or sugar sculpture known as "alfe." You could see these objects in shape of food (mole, chili relleno, fruit, nopales); small coffins with skeletons, and of course, the sugar skull or "calavera" were placed on all tiers of the altar or ofrenda. The only items that could be specific to an individual were the three boxes of Mexican cigarettes, and the food items (mole, chile relleno, fruit nopales) found on the altar. This is done to entice the dead and assure that their souls actually return to take part in the remembrance. In very traditional settings, typically found only in native communities, the path from the street to the altar is actually strewn with petals to guide the returning soul to its altar and the bosom of the family. The deceased could have been in a band or like to listen to Mariachi music. Group of skeleton dressed in Marachis was placed on the altar. The Special Collection work-studys did not just display items on the altar but scattered Dia de los Muertos artifacts through out the room. This particular ofrenda included "papel picado" or Mexican cut-paper with themes relating to Day of...