Topic 15 - Heroes of the Wars of Independence in Popular Culture

Mexico has a great tradition of muralists and Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and Juan O'Gorman all included portraits of the heroes of independence in their works:

Mural by Juan O'Gorman of the Grito de Dolores (see Father Hidalgo in lower right corner - who else can  you identify?)

Panel of the Independence (1960-61), Museo Nacional de Historia, Castillo de Chapultepec, Mexico

Orozco's Hidalgo and National Independence (1937-1938), Governor's Palace, Guadalajara, Mexico.  Note the scale of this fresco - look at the people at the very bottom of the picture, they are standing on the landing between two staircases. Here is an interesting website about seeing the murals.

This is a section of Diego Rivera's History of Mexico mural in the National Palace in Mexico City. Father Hidalgo is in the middle of this image with the broken chains of slavery. Look to his immediate right and you will see Morelos (with the outstretched arm).  Look to the left to the green flag.  This represents the Plan de Iguala.  The man in uniform holding the flag is Vicente Guerrero.  Next to him, in the red, regal looking outfit, is none other that Emperor Iturbide.  Of interest, the mestizo in the Spanish armor holding out the sword below Hidalgo is Martin Cortes, the son of Hernan Cortes and Malinche.





Simon Bolivar also regularly appears in popular culture.  Here is a trailer from the recent theatrical release, The Liberator:

And, of course, no discussion of Bolivar in pop culture would be complete without reference to the wonderful work of historical fiction (magical realism style), The General in his Labyrinth, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  This is a fictional account of the great general's last days.  If you haven't read any works by this author, put this on your winter break reading list - you won't be disappointed.