Non-verbal communication: Graffiti

There are a lot of ways to express ourselves without talking, one way to get your message is by graffiti. Graffiti is a manner to show feelings, most commonly with throwing paint in walls in order to make draws. In Latin America, graffiti is very used. 
A clear example is Bogota, Colombia where street artists used graffiti as a reminder of the days when street violence was endemic, also to criticized the government and the police for being corrupt. They also are inspired by the indigenous culture.
Another country where Graffiti is used in Latin America is Argentina. In Buenos Aires graffiti is in a another level, superior. There, street artists turn the wall into a piece of pure art, making turning the streets into an open air art gallery, where the style and thoughts of the artist are demonstrated. 
In Tegucigalpa (Honduras), one of the world's deadliest cities with more than 87 homicides per 100,000 people - 10 times the rate considered an epidemic of violence by the World Health Organisation; Maeztro, an artist armed with two boxes of spray paint cans, a notebook, and a Sharpie marker, plans to take over the six-metre long wall to express the reality of his country.
The street artists of Brazil, are influenced by the political climate and corruption in their country.Nunca and Os Gêmeos are among the most famous practitioners of Brazilian street art. Although their work received a kind of institutional seal of approval when the Tate Modern put on a major exhibition of street art in 2008,  they never stopped making art outdoors.

Clearly graffiti is a manner to express ideas influenced by what is around us, a type of nonverbal communication, where the voice is not specifically needed but it keeps sending a message.

Bangkok's 'Mexican' Gangsters

'Mexican Gangsters', that's how young Thai men identify themselves, even when they are not violent or deal with illicit drugs at all (like the real Latin Gangs). This is a way for them to appreciated another culture and try to imitate it, this Thai men most only had a shallow understanding of the foreign urban culture and Mexico in general. To make it clear, Mexican Gangsters just appreciated and follow the style of the real gangs; that makes them look like gangsters without being one, the  just copy their clothes, tattoos or even hairstyles.

Young Thai men are a clear example of appropriation of another subculture, in this case Latin gangsters, because they are taking things of a very different culture and use those things in their own culture (where it doesn't belong). 

 

'Mexican Gangsters'

  

 Thailand culture

I'm not against cultural appropriation and don't have a lot to say about this topic, I just think that it can (eventually) make disappear or change a culture.

to see more information of Bangkok's Mexican gangsters click here.

Racism against Afro-Colombians.

I just watched a video about Racism in Colombia and I feel sad because of this, so I'm going to talk about this now. Racism is a problem but not everyone is able to see it as one. Judging a person by the color of their skin or their race, not only is incorrect but it also means that the ones that are judging are playing God (the only one that can judge us). People with racial issues need to get over it and understand that we all are capable to do whatever we want to do! The video show us alarming numbers in which we can see the clearly difference between Afro-Colombians and Colombians, I realized that racism is still a part of my country and it shouldn't be. Afro-Colombians are Colombians, that makes us, in a certain way, like brothers. So, my point is, we need to put our differences aside and help each other, in order to grow as a person, therefore as a country.

 #UniteAgainstRacism

here is the link of the video is you want to see it.

Rosa A. Navarro

Let me introduce myself...

My name is Rosa Navarro, I'm 17 and I'm currently studying Civil Engineering at the Universidad del Norte in Colombia (Barranquilla, to be more specific). I was born and raised in Valledupar, only 5 hours far by bus and just 20 minutes by plane; I came here in order to study and develop myself. When I'm free I like to spend time with my friends, write, cook and draw. Valledupar is considered as a city, but I see it more like a town, so there was easy to make friends because everybody knows each other. It's hard to be apart with my family but I know it is for my best and realizing that a lot of my closest friends are in the same city as me is a good thing, so we all have a fun time on weekends (if you know what I mean). I'm reliable, if you're my friend I'd probably never let you down. The most important thing in my life is my family, my saying is "family over everything". God, family, friends and money are always in my mind and heart. I consider myself as a very wise person, and I'm not the only one who says that.

So, I hope you like my new blog, I promise to write when is needed...

"Quietest people have the loudest mind"