Regional Settlement Patterns and Political Complexity in the Cinti Valley, Bolivia

Traditionally, scholars investigating prehispanic Andean polities and sociopolitical organization have worked from cross-cultural models of complex societies underlain by concepts of political hierarchy and centralized control. Recently, however, some archaeologists, drawing from ethnohistorical and ethnographic sources, have argued that late prehispanic polities in various parts of the Andes were organized around principles very different from those that underlie traditional constructs of complex societies. This ethnohistoric evidence raises the possibility that the models of political organization often used by archaeologists are not adequate to account for the development and dynamics of all prehispanic Andean polities.Ethnohistoric sources portray the structure and dynamics of the "ethnic kingdoms" as rooted in still poorly understood indigenous principles of organization featuring nested, dual socio-territorial units (ayllus), decentralized political leadership, and confederation as the basis of hierarchy. To date, there has been very little study of what these polities would look like archeologically, or how the supposedly different principles of organization would manifest themselves in a regional settlement structure, wealth and status differentiation, or production and exchange patterns. Ethnohistoric documentation for the existence of ayllu polities in the Cinti region, southern Bolivia, made this area a prime setting for exploration of the archaeological ramifications of traditional and ayllu-based models. Full-scale regional survey and excavation generated data on the long-term evolution of sociopolitical structure and economic processes in the Cinti Valley. The investigation was organized around identifying strategies (economic and social) associated with political leadership, and their role in politico-economic centralization and social differentiation. The research revealed the emergence, by AD 800, of a strongly integrated, regional polity, characterized by a traditional settlement hierarchy, and elite residence at a dominant center. Catchment zone analysis indicated that increasing agricultural production was most closely linked to strategies of political leadership and status differentiation. The Cinti Valley investigation served to refine our understanding of the ayllu polity both as an archaeological model, and as a form of prehispanic political organization. Highlighting the convergence and divergence between emic constructs and empirical regional patterns should contribute to a better understanding of the nature and variability of southern Bolivian prehispanic societies, and how they should be archaeologically approached

Planetary Loves: Spivak, Postcoloniality, and Theology

Title: Planetary loves : Spivak, postcoloniality, and theology Author: Stephen D Moore; Mayra Rivera. Publisher: New York : Fordham University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978082324048

Book Reviews: Guadalupe Rivera and Marie-Pierre Colle (1994); Ignacio Urquiza, photographer. Frida’s Fiestas: Recipes and Reminiscences of Life with Frida Kahlo

Book review for Frida\u27s Fiestas: Recipe and Reminiscences of Life with Frida Kahlo, Guadalup Rivera and Marie-Pierre Colle, Clarkson Potter/Publishers, New York, 1994

Adelic equidistribution, characterization of equidistribution, and a general equidistribution theorem in non-archimedean dynamics

We determine when the equidistribution property for possibly moving targets holds for a rational function of degree more than one on the projective line over an algebraically closed field of any characteristic and complete with respect to a non-trivial absolute value. This characterization could be useful in the positive characteristic case. Based on the variational argument, we give a purely local proof of the adelic equidistribution theorem for possibly moving targets, which is due to Favre and Rivera-Letelier, using a dynamical Diophantine approximation theorem by Silverman and by Szpiro--Tucker. We also give a proof of a general equidistribution theorem for possibly moving targets, which is due to Lyubich in the archimedean case and due to Favre and Rivera-Letelier for constant targets in the non-archimedean and any characteristic case and for moving targets in the non-archimedean and 0 characteristic case.Comment: 25 pages, no figures. (v2: a few minor modifications

Economic Integration and Endogenous Growth Revisited: Pro-Competitive Gains from Trade in Goods and the Long Run Benefits to the Exchange of Ideas

This paper re-examines the Romer [1990] “knowledge driven” endogenous growth model in an open economy setting. As an alternative to Rivera-Batiz and Romer [1991], we consider trade between two absolutely identical countries that are characterized by imperfect competition in one of the trade goods. Contrary to Rivera- Batiz and Romer [1991], we find that trade in goods without trade in ideas is detrimental to long run growth while trade in goods in conjunction with trade in ideas is good for long run growth. We further demonstrate that the pro-competitive gains from trade in goods is analogous to the analysis of imperfect competition by standard international trade theory.Knowledge Driven, Endogenous Growth, International Trade, Imperfect Competition

Measuring mathematical resilience : an application of the construct of resilience to the study of mathematics

To meet the challenge of accelerating demands for quantitative literacy in the work force, improvements are needed in mathematics education. Student skill must be increased at all ability levels while also reducing the achievement gap across gender, racial and ethnic groups to increase their participation in advanced mathematics coursework and representation in mathematics related careers (National Mathematics Advisory Panel, 2008). Research has shown that affective traits such as motivation and attitude are linked to increased likelihood of taking advanced mathematics courses (Ma, 2006) and are significant predictors of improved cognitive activity and achievement (Buff, Reusser, Rakoczy,& Pauli, 2011; Ethington & Wolfe, 1986). In addition, males generally score more favorably than females on affective variables related to mathematics achievement and persistence (McGraw, Lubienski, & Strutchens, 2006; Sherman & Fennema, 1977; Wilkins and Ma, 2003). Although psychological resilience has been researched extensively (Luthar, Cicchetti, & Becker, 2000; Luthar, 2007) the study of mathematical resilience, defined as a positive adaptive stance to mathematics which allows students to continue learning despite adversity, represents a new approach (Johnston-Wilder & Lee, 2010; Rivera & Waxman, 2011). Math anxiety looks at maladaptive response to learning mathematics and is well-studied (Hembree, 1990; Richardson & Suinn, 1977; Tobias, 1978). In contrast, resilience incorporates factors associated with optimal functioning. Although mathematical resilience has been identified as important for success (Johnston-Wilder & Lee, 2010; Rivera & Waxman, 2011), little consensus exists around its definition and no measures of resilience have been rigorously developed and/or validated. Rivera & Waxman (2011) identified the use of teacher nomination of resilient students as a limitation of their study, further motivating development of an instrument. This presentation will report on efforts to develop and validate an instrument measuring mathematical resilience. Ultimately, the measure will aid in developing and testing models that gauge the role of mathematical resilience in student achievement and persistence in advanced coursework. These models can be used to develop interventions to improve mathematical resilience, achievement, and quantitative literacy (Johnston-Wilder & Lee, 2010)

Inventing a Mexican Cubism: Diego Rivera in Paris

My research, through an extended literature review, focuses on what attracted Diego Rivera to Cubism. I also explore how and why Rivera modified the cubist style. By analyzing Rivera’s artistic training in Mexico and his Cubist period, I have discovered that the artistic training prepared him for Cubism. The rigid, traditional training that Rivera received in Mexico primed him for Cubism. This logical approach to art that was instilled in him in San Carlos by both Velasco and Rebull engendered a focus on the rational processes behind creating art. However, the Eurocentric focus of the academy was detrimental to Rivera’s psychological state, and he developed an inferiority complex that was later exacerbated while working in Europe. Rivera traveled to Spain after being awarded a scholarship to master new styles and broaden his horizons. While studying in Spain, Rivera was introduced to the avant-garde through his friendships with fellow artists, writers, and critics. Familiarizing himself with the avant-garde style created a more abstract and diverse style throughout Rivera’s work. Although realism remained prominent in Rivera’s work, he opened himself to the styles of newer, more abstracted movements such as Cubism. Rivera later traveled and moved to Paris understanding that this relocation was necessary to gain respect and establish himself as a prominent artist in Europe. An artistic movement led by Braque and Picasso, Cubism became established shortly after Rivera relocated. This style of art focused on multi-point perspective, giving the viewer various viewpoints simultaneously and breaking down subject matter into simpler geometric forms and plans. Rivera worked closely with Picasso who taught him the logic and process behind Cubism. Rivera’s Cubist work demonstrated a profound understanding of the style, but his deviations in subject matter, color, and tone established a connection between Rivera and Mexico, Scholarone which helped him to construct a Mexican artistic identity in xenophobic Paris. Xenophobia was rampant in Paris during this time due to factors such as the Moroccan Crisis and the international success of Cubism. Foreign artists were seen as competition by the galleries, salons, and European artists. Rivera combated this xenophobia through an embrace of Mexican themes and iconography juxtaposed with a Cubist style. While Rivera used multi-point perspective and geometric shapes in his work, he abandoned the monochromatic palette that many Cubists used; his works used bold, bright colors. Unlike other Cubists, he also did not focus on neutral themes. Rivera depicted the Mexican Revolution in his works Zapatista Landscape and Portrait of Martin Luis Guzman. Through these paintings, Rivera connected himself to Mexico, the individuals in these works, and the Mexican Revolution. Rivera reserved color for subject matter and objects that relate to his national identity and heritage, which is seen in his work Joven con sueter gris, a largely monochromatic portrait with hints of color in a fragmented serape, a Mexican blanket. Rivera’s modification of Cubism allowed him to combat xenophobia, establish himself as a prominent artist in Europe, and visually celebrate his Mexican identity

Diego Rivera in the United States: Working from Within the Enemy Camp

The most notorious twentieth-century Mexican artist and politician, Diego Rivera, stepped up to the international pedestal of art in the late 1920s. Recognized for his revival of mural painting and undeniable compositional skill, the middle-aged Rivera was crowned a Michelangelo of modern art by artists, intellectuals, and admirers of the time. When Rivera traveled to the United States to show off his peacock\u27s tail, the American media also participated readily in the servile flattery of the Mexican master. Yet, as was evident in print media, Rivera\u27s art was revered more for its technical ability to depict Mexico and its culture, than for the revolutionary ideas it was trying to portray. In fact, the media manufactured a cultural argumentation about the artist that was blind to Rivera\u27s desire to spread communism on the walls of capitalist buildings. Thus, when the greatest living master of fresco painting exposed a turkey\u27s tail instead of a peacock\u27s, the media changed the fawning to vitriol. As a result, Rivera\u27s career in the United States was ephemeral