Gamboa, Watts, and Goldman

How does Harry Gamboa Jr. tie into our analysis of Aztlan as a palimpsest and Chicano iconography?

Gamboa is another great example of the changing times, interests, and struggles Chicano communities face everyday.  Issues that the Chicano communities were plagued with were seldom given importance by the dominant anglo culture of the United States.  These issues also changed as years went by.  

The changing Chicano culture was especially apparent during the 1970's as many young Chicanos and Chicanas protested the Vietnam War.
Gamboa's style of expression was different, it was weird, and it was strange, but most importantly it was powerful. Gamboa captures the emotions of his audience in a very special way and he designed a new urban Aztlán, where the troubles of Chicanos and Chicanas are very much like our own today.

These two videos are one example of how Aztlán is a palimpsests and how artists, such as Gamboa, have written over to adjust to a new, changing generation of Chicanos.  While times have changed, it doesn't mean that Chicanos and Chicanas want to disassociate themselves with their rich history and culture.  Instead Aztlán adapts to include more people, with different interesets, backgrounds, and different conflicts.

Aztlán represents the battle against "a history of cultural stereotypes of Mexican Americans as violent, passive underachievers, whose lack of success in achieving the 'American Dream' could be traces to the fundamental flaws in their historical and cultural make-up" (Watts 306). 

New or old, same or different approaches on Chicano issues all share recurring themes and ultimately, they also share the same goals: Chicano and Chicana empowerment.  Artists, like Gamboa, use their works to communicate to their audiences, Chicano and non-Chicanos alike, that they're not alone in their struggles, in their fight for justice.

Gamboa, in particular, has explored many mediums to communicate with his audiences.  His use of photogrpahy, film, multimedia is an example of the use of iconography for Chicano empowerment. Gamboa represents the diversity of Aztlán, the opportunity for change.