Los carnavales de México. Una aproximación a su regionalidad y regionalización

Carnivals are opportunities to understand a wide range of dynamics, processes, and historical periods. Analyzing them implies more than a simple description or an isolated glance. In the emerging field of carnival studies, it is necessary to identify, categorize, and theorize about the intra- and interregional differences and similarities in order to understand the possible macroprocesses and the historical, territorial, social, cultural, ethnic, and political factors that have shaped the diverse nature of these celebrations. Inversely, it is useful to examine how certain regions manifest particular types of carnivals. A review of contrasting literature using the theoretical framework of regionalization illustrates the need for a regional focus in the analysis of the human-cultural expression of carnival in Mexico and their particular expressions in the regions or states of the country, encouraging the creation of a truly glocal-regional understanding and the strengthening of this field of studies.Los carnavales son oportunidades para comprender dinámicas, procesos y periodos históricos, y analizarlos implica más que descripciones simples o miradas aisladas. En el campo emergente de los estudios sobre el carnaval hace falta identificar, categorizar y teorizar las diferencias y similitudes intra e interregionales para comprender los posibles macroprocesos y los factores históricos, territoriales, sociales, culturales, étnicos y políticos que formaron la diversidad de estas celebraciones; de manera inversa, es útil indagar acerca de cómo en algunas regiones se manifiestan ciertos tipos de carnaval. Mediante una revisión y contraste bibliográfico desde un enfoque de regionalidad, se analiza y categoriza la expresión humano-cultural del carnaval en México, buscando catalogar su presencia en diferentes regiones y estados para ilustrar qué regionalidad(es) caracteriza(n) el carnaval en el país y sostener que el análisis regional facilita una comprensión glocal profunda que puede reforzar el campo de los estudios sobre el tema

Historiar el carnaval en Chiapas: un reto de historiografía, análisis, síntesis y (re)construcción

As celebrations associated with Catholic and indigenous calendars, carnivals in Chiapas are occasions to gather, interact positively in a group setting, celebrate, and create semiotic resilience. To date, the systematic study of carnivals in Chiapas is an emergent field: Intraregional differences and similarities are still poorly understood, as are the carnivals’ regional development in historical, territorial, social, and ethnic terms. In this article, we undertake a historical analysis of carnivals in Chiapas by means of a bibliographical and historiographical systematization, a semiotic and symbolic contrastive analysis of 24 carnivals, and a proposed general timeline of the carnival phenomenon in Chiapas. The principal objective is to contribute to and strengthen the study of the carnival and to encourage a critical discussion of what this subject might offer to a new type of “other” history.Los carnavales como fiesta originaria y del calendario católico en Chiapas son ocasiones de reunión, convivencia grupal, celebración y resiliencia semiótica. Hasta la fecha, su estudio sistematizado en el estado se encuentra apenas en estado emergente: hace falta registrar, analizar y comprender las diferencias y las similitudes intrarregionales, así como su desarrollo en términos históricos, territoriales, sociales, étnicos y glocales. Este artículo busca historiar el carnaval en Chiapas. Se presenta una sistematización bibliográfica e historiográfica, una contrastación semiótica y simbólica de los 24 carnavales detectados y una propuesta de posible línea de tiempo para el fenómeno del carnaval en el estado. Su objetivo principal es aportar al campo de estudio del carnaval, fortalecerlo, y motivar la discusión crítica de lo que como objeto de estudio puede ofrecer a la escritura de una nueva historia “otra”

A Total Site of Hegemony: Monumental Materiality at Teotihuacan, Mexico

This dissertation addresses the complex status of Teotihuacan, officially demarcated as a "zone of archaeological monuments," at the center of Mexico, which is a pluralistic nation-state. Located 40 kilometers from the modern capital, its largest pyramid, the Pyramid of the Sun, was built almost 2,000 years ago. Attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, it is not only an important source of revenue but also a powerful symbol of Mexican national identity and immense historical pride. Leaving this site's prehistoric origins and significance for archaeologists to sort out, this thesis focuses on its position near the core of the political system and its role in articulating and commemorating national identity. By examining how the site has survived through history, how it has been represented, and how people interact with the site and at its premises, this thesis elaborates on the extent to which Teotihuacan should be conceived specifically as a nation-state formation place and on what other factors have shaped the place in its current form. The diversity that is revealed by this examination indicates, moreover, that the nation-state formation paradigm focuses too narrowly on ideological connotations, and fails to acknowledge some of the underlying aspects of materiality that form the site as well. The case-study examines the diverse ways in which meaning is constructed at Teotihuacan and proposes to study Teotihuacan as a 'total site.' Taking after French anthropologist Marcel Mauss's `total social phenomenon,' the `total site' concept describes a place that features diversely in the collective imagination and must be understood as such, and is used to integrate a variety of perspectives that relate to and give meaning to Teotihuacan as a diverse place. Serving as a heuristic device to characterize the complexity of Teotihuacan, the term captures both material and ideological aspects. This discussion, finally, exposes Mexico as a country with a strong nation-state formation tradition, but suggests that there is more to Mexico than that nation-state formation agenda

La bebida pozol de cacao en su presencia en el carnaval zoque de San Fernando, Chiapas: un análisis biocultural con reflexiones para la sociedad contemporánea

Objective: Analyze bioculturally the traditional and pre-Hispanic drink of pozol in the Zoque carnival of San Fernando, Chiapas to illustrate its environmentally and socially sustainable civilizatory qualities and to reveal the theoretical advantages of the biocultural paradigm and suggest that the study of bioculturality belongs to the emerging macro-paradigm of (planetary) complexity. We hope to demonstrate that it is essential to deepen our understanding of and to (re)value the traditional, communal, hand-crafted, local and the manifested human and nature relationship. Methodology: The study has an ethnographic, biocultural, and epistemologically reflexive nature. Results: The pozol drink in the carnival of San Fernando emerges from this analysis as being complex, polyvalent, polysemic and highly civilizatory: it is appetizing to drink, to contemplate, and to execute. Limitations: The study bears upon only one single ethnographic context and moment. Conclusions: The comprehension obtained from a biocultural perspective facilitates the giving of meaning to humanity and to our changing global civilization-society in a world of crisis.Objetivo: analizar bioculturalmente la bebida tradicional y prehispánica nombrada pozol de cacao, en su expresión en el Carnaval zoque de San Fernando, Chiapas. Esto es para presentar la utilidad de la bioculturalidad como marco teórico y sugerir en ella la pertenencia de un macro-paradigma de complejidad y auto-eco-organización para promover y profundizar la comprensión y la (re)valoración de lo tradicional, lo comunitario, lo hecho a mano, lo local y la relación ser humano naturaleza manifestada. Metodología: el estudio fue etnográfica, biocultural y epistemológicamente reflexivo. Resultados: el pozol en el Carnaval zoque de San Fernando, Chiapas, emerge como una bebida compleja, polivalente, polisémica y altamente civilizatoria: lista para tomar, para comprender y para ser. Limitaciones: el estudio se reduce a un solo contexto y tiempo etnográfico específico. Conclusiones: la comprensión del pozol de cacao, su presencia en una celebración tradicional-comunitario y la fuerza del análisis biocultural contribuyen al esfuerzo de dar sentido al ser humano y formar civilización-sociedad contemporánea en un mundo cambiante y en crisis

El carnaval del Tancoy en Las Rosas, Chiapas 1914-2018. Una etnografía Histórica

Se realiza un estudio sobre el carnaval del Tancoy, en Las Rosas, Chiapas, durante el periodo 1914-2018. En la investigación se presentan las contradicciones sociales que se han expresado en este evento, las influencias económicas, históricas y políticas que propician su transformación. Se indagan los cambios por los que ha atravesado dicho evento a lo largo del tiempo pero situándolo en los diferentes contextos, locales, estatales, nacionales e internacionales