MURALS AND CULTURE
By Charity A. Hicks

        Hispanic culture is displayed in murals as readily as the art found on low-riders. Brenda Bright from Rice University discusses the cultural value of low-riders in such a manner that I intend to also apply to murals. The term “bad” is used to describe low-riders; this means “dangerous, respectable, and in opposition to cultural norms.” Murals signify much of these same values to the Hispanic people, and this art form is expressive in terms of tradition and in manner of portraying cultural inheritance.
Inheritance includes anything and everything relevant to the passage of generational norms such as: machismo, femininity, familial loyalty, and many other non-tangible forms of Hispanic culture. As minorities and not always familiar or fluent with the English language, the Hispanic population has acquired a voice louder than one’s ears alone hear. Their voice is heard as eyes gaze upon the works of art displayed at random on various sides of neighborhood buildings.
Murals, much like low-riders, incorporate individual and societal views through imagination, thus also fusing the imagination with the social life. Hispanic art work, rather a Muriel or a low-rider, serves the community in the following ways. First, art is a method for creating a sense of identity for the individual and for the community. Secondly, personal, societal, and cultural experiences in life are shared with others through art displays. Last but not least, art conveys a variety of shared desires among community members. Art, whether through murals or low-riders, connects members of the Hispanic community through their voice and shared views.