ANCHOR TEXT
A Cultural Exploration Text Set curated by Kathy Menchaca Isbister
Essential Question: How do people express themselves through the arts?
Anchor Text: First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
Pérez, C. (2017) First rule of punk. New York, NY: Viking.
Audience: 4th/5th grade students reading at or above grade level. Zines featured throughout the book also make this accessible for students reading below grade level, with teacher support.
About the book: Malú has moved to Chicago with her mom, "SuperMexican", who is a professor immersed in her Mexican culture. Malú has had to leave her dad's record store behind, but still carries his punk rock spirit in her heart and in her sartorial fashion choices. In trying to find her place in a new school, Malú must examine both her Mexican and punk rock roots to decide who she is and how she wants to present herself to the world.
The author is a zine artist, and has incorporated collage and ink zines throughout the text. These are great fun, and will hopefully inspire readers to experiment with this art form as a means of self expression.
The text names a wide variety of source materials ranging from Chicago landmarks to Mexican pastries. Students familiar with any of the key cultural elements discussed, such as punk music or The Wizard of Oz, will enjoy recognizing references to things they know. However, prior knowledge is not required to enjoy the story, or to relate to Malú's struggles with the status quo.
Essential Question: How do people express themselves through the arts?
Anchor Text: First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
Pérez, C. (2017) First rule of punk. New York, NY: Viking.
Audience: 4th/5th grade students reading at or above grade level. Zines featured throughout the book also make this accessible for students reading below grade level, with teacher support.
About the book: Malú has moved to Chicago with her mom, "SuperMexican", who is a professor immersed in her Mexican culture. Malú has had to leave her dad's record store behind, but still carries his punk rock spirit in her heart and in her sartorial fashion choices. In trying to find her place in a new school, Malú must examine both her Mexican and punk rock roots to decide who she is and how she wants to present herself to the world.
The author is a zine artist, and has incorporated collage and ink zines throughout the text. These are great fun, and will hopefully inspire readers to experiment with this art form as a means of self expression.
The text names a wide variety of source materials ranging from Chicago landmarks to Mexican pastries. Students familiar with any of the key cultural elements discussed, such as punk music or The Wizard of Oz, will enjoy recognizing references to things they know. However, prior knowledge is not required to enjoy the story, or to relate to Malú's struggles with the status quo.
TEXT SET
Spotify Playlist
I created a playlist featuring each of the artists named in The First Rule of Punk, including those in the playlist the author provides at the end of the book. The author gave it a punk black heart of approval! The playlist includes Alice Bag, a punk rocker and Chicana rights activist from East Los Angeles, as well as the ranchera singer Lola Beltrán, whose rendition of "Cielito Lindo" inspires Malú to perform a punk version of the song. As an independent activity, students could refer to the book and locate page numbers and quotes where the bands on this playlist are mentioned.
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Dancer and Choreographer: Amalia Hernández
This engaging picture book is about the Mexican dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernández. Inspired by a dance performance she saw as a child, Amalia traveled her country to learn about its regional dances. She later combined her knowledge of ballet, modern, and folk dances to create El Ballet Folklórico de México.
One of Malú's classmates is an accomplished Huapango dancer, so I have included a video of Amalia's company performing this dance.
Students can also learn some dance steps in small groups, and can be challenged to create a dance set to one of the songs on "The First Rule of Punk" playlist.
One of Malú's classmates is an accomplished Huapango dancer, so I have included a video of Amalia's company performing this dance.
Students can also learn some dance steps in small groups, and can be challenged to create a dance set to one of the songs on "The First Rule of Punk" playlist.
Artist and Icon: Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo is a well-known Mexican artist whose image, as immortalized in her works, has become iconic. While the works of the artist herself are fascinating, it is also interesting to study how works are presented when an artist is deceased, and what entities choose to present (and benefit from) an artist's work.
First, there is the Frida Kahlo Corporation. The "Company" page states, "With the growing number of Frida Kahlo fanatics and followers worldwide, the Frida Kahlo Corporation along with the support of the Kahlo family is dedicated to educating, sharing and preserving Frida Kahlo’s art, image and legacy." The "Licenses" page features some of the products that have been officially sanctioned to carry Frida Kahlo's name, including Converse sneakers, a line of skin care products, and a branded tequila.
There is another site featuring Frida's work titled FridaKahlo.org, which does not state its intended purpose or provide any information about the website creators. In its "term of use", it states "Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements."
As a group, the class could explore what motivates people to create websites. This could also be an opportunity to explore the importance of understanding the creator's possible biases when relying on a website for information.
First, there is the Frida Kahlo Corporation. The "Company" page states, "With the growing number of Frida Kahlo fanatics and followers worldwide, the Frida Kahlo Corporation along with the support of the Kahlo family is dedicated to educating, sharing and preserving Frida Kahlo’s art, image and legacy." The "Licenses" page features some of the products that have been officially sanctioned to carry Frida Kahlo's name, including Converse sneakers, a line of skin care products, and a branded tequila.
There is another site featuring Frida's work titled FridaKahlo.org, which does not state its intended purpose or provide any information about the website creators. In its "term of use", it states "Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements."
As a group, the class could explore what motivates people to create websites. This could also be an opportunity to explore the importance of understanding the creator's possible biases when relying on a website for information.
Comic Artist and Illustrator: Kat Fajardo
Kat Fajardo created the cover art for The First Rule of Punk, and creator of comics in both digital and paper formats. Her Instagram account chronicles her experiences as a working artist, and shows her attending a variety of events and working on a number of projects.
www.instagram.com/katfcomix/#_=_
You can also read an interview with Kat on the No Echo website, where she talks about her background, her inspirations, and her work process.
Students could work individually or in groups to create an art commission request for a record album. Groups could exchange these requests and fulfill them for each other.
www.instagram.com/katfcomix/#_=_
You can also read an interview with Kat on the No Echo website, where she talks about her background, her inspirations, and her work process.
Students could work individually or in groups to create an art commission request for a record album. Groups could exchange these requests and fulfill them for each other.
Fashion Designer: Isabella Springmühl
Isabella Springmühl is a Guatemalan fashion designer and a person with Down Syndrome. She has been inspired by the artists and textiles created in Guatemala, and incorporates bright colors and embroidery into her designs. Isabella is also interested in creating clothes specifically designed to fit people with Down Syndrome, who have shorter torsos and necks.
In the video above, Isabella's mother says one of her daughter's first explorations in fashion was creating clothes for rag dolls. These are larger versions of traditional "worry dolls", which Malú's dad gives her as a going-away present. Students can follow directions at this website to create their own worry dolls with pipe cleaners and yarn. pageturneradventures.com/2012/02/let-worry-dolls-take-your-troubles-away/
In the video above, Isabella's mother says one of her daughter's first explorations in fashion was creating clothes for rag dolls. These are larger versions of traditional "worry dolls", which Malú's dad gives her as a going-away present. Students can follow directions at this website to create their own worry dolls with pipe cleaners and yarn. pageturneradventures.com/2012/02/let-worry-dolls-take-your-troubles-away/