if I wrote a semi lengthy piece about the cult of Frida Kahlo as the ultimate “Other”, praised by White women precisely because she is the “Other” and of course, her beauty choices are exotic and different and so daring! “So daring because.they.are.from.a.woman.that.is.not.one.of.us”.
And she had a wacky relationship with Diego Rivera and he cheated on her but it was OK because she also liked girls? Oh, you mean like a brown, exoticized other almost like a noble savage? And hegemonic cultures love to throw around a noble savage for “illustration purposes”? And if said “noble savage” can also be turned into a White feminist icon, all the better?
And how women heading from Latin America have very little (if anything) in common with Frida Kahlo’s plight, which was so unique and so much re-told from the perspective of art collectors who are also almost always male and White and now women artist who happen to be Latinas have to live to the expectations of this appropriated narrative and are expected to paint in colorful colors, with a “Latin@ flavor! and throw in some rhythm there, girl! and since you are there, tell us about your sexual prowess as well!”.
Oh, you mean, that not everyone in Latin America identifies with her or her life? What do you mean? Don’t you see I have an art collection to peddle?!
All right. Probably too many would be offended on behalf of everyone else. So I’d rather not do it.
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