The shallow, simplistic nature of modern racialism is highlighted by the many-layered racial caste system in colonial Spain. This isn't to say either mindset is justifiable or rational, but while modern notions of race are the product of lazy generalization, the Spanish caste system was an actual attempt to codify and stratify the subtle perceived differences between people with various racial mixes. The paintings do much more to illustrate these perceived traits than any textual description, because the scenes the characters meant to represent the parents are in speak volumes of the artist's personal biases and/or the biases of the society being solicited to buy the paintings. The scenes of 'lower' castes involved domestic dissatisfaction and drunkenness while 'higher' castes were seen in luxurious clothing and with happy, smiling families. All of these attempts to degrade the image of non-European descent are merely insecure colonizers seeking to satisfy their threatened sense of self-worth by establishing an artificial standard of 'civilized nature', which their perceived inferiors inevitably fall short of. The nomenclature used by the Casta paintings to describe certain mixes as "wolves", "incomprehensible", and other derogatory names. The ending anecdote about such a painting appearing in the parlour of an English sea captain suggests that representations of this colonial hierarchy had certain novelty value to those not engaged in colonial administration.
The story of the escaped nun who disguised herself as a man sounds like the beginning of a heroic story of a woman overcoming the gender divide and becoming an officer in the Spanish military as they conquer South America. While she fought many battles and had other exploits, I will focus on Potosi because it is the area where the heroism of Antonio/Alfonso Diaz, born Catalina de Erauso, comes into serious question. While it is tempting to interpret this through modern retrospection as a tale of transgendered agency that erodes the illusions of rigid Catholic gender repression, Erauso's role in both the violent subjugation of the Aruacanian and other indigenous peoples and the conquest for the Spanish Empire of 41,000 metric tons of silver that would be extracted from Potosi between 1556 and 1783 negate any possibility of my calling her a hero. While escaping a life of repression and solitude as a nun and dressing as a man to give yourself a new life is a fabulous act of personal rebellion, using that new identity to become a conquistador whose personal contributions help a brutal empire finance their colonial enterprises for centuries onward is wholly unacceptable in my opinion.
I have been reading so many posts about the Lieutenant Nun and what a "hero" she was from everyone and I couldn't agree with you more! I think it was amazing that during that time period she took on a persona of a man. However, her actions were terrible and it it nothing to call her a hero for. Just because she was a women doesn't make what she did okay.
ReplyDeleteI also find the label hero to be troubling. On the one hand, we call George Washington a hero for leading victorious battles during the revolutionary war. So, why shouldn't we say that Catalina is a war hero? And above all a transgender war hero. On the other hand, he received that tile by being ruthless and dehumanizing Amerindians. Is that the kind of person we should look up to? However, if we are saying he is a hero because he transgressed gender boundaries and challenged the Kings and the Pope's stance, then that is something to admire! But the means are still questionable. As you can see, I'm conflicted on whether to consider him a hero or a low quality person.
ReplyDeleteWhile I completely agree that from a modern perspective the actions of Catalina are quite harsh, violent and oppressive. However when looking at historical documents sometimes we have to look at them from a point of view congruent with the times. During this period of history the things Catalina/Alfonso did were quite common and normal. The slaughter of indigenous peoples and using them as slavery would have been considered a harsh but necessary action. Many europeans at the time believed it was their duty and purpose to rule over these peoples and them rebelling against the spanish crown meant their slaughter and enslavement was justified. As modern individuals yes we see these actions as wrong and quite horrible, but during the time they occurred they were quite within the normal accepted behavior.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting, in your analysis of the Casta Paintings, how you suggest that the reasoning behind the caste system was the insecurity of the Spaniards. I think being so far from home and in such a foreign place, they may have begun to question everything they know, as is human nature. However, instead of succumbing to their insecurities, they opted to over-assert their authority. The manufactured race system is a perfect example of an imposed hierarchy on otherwise impartial people.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the attempt to establish a seemingly natural social structure came out of the colonizers' insecurity. I also agree that there's nothing heroic about violence and affliction. However, I suggest that we differentiate Catalina from common soldiers in the conquerer's army. There seems to be little evidence that she harbored the same ambition of conquest and aspiration for the land as the leading conquerers, or strong enmity towards indigenous people; she rather fought to make a living. She didn't have much determination of controlling her own life and pretty much just went with the flow.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very valid point that the Lieutenant Nun's actions, however brave, were not necessarily "heroic." I agree that it is not black and white. Although she broke gender barriers, she still did follow questionable aspirations. It is difficult to judge however because of the narrow viewpoints cultures with ethnocentric standing have, such as we discussed with Columbus.
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