Malinche and Other Contested Narratives Within Chicana Codices

Malinche is a historical figure whose early visual depictions were in codices created by Mesoamerican scribes as well as by Spanish chroniclers during and after the campaign to conquer the Aztec empire. Whether on amate (bark paper), cloth, or European paper, codices functioned not only as official documents but also as narratives with a particular point of view.

Art historian, Terezita Romo will discuss how Chicana artists adapted the ancient codex format, initially to create counternarratives to the Columbus Quincentenary and reclaim Malinche, then transformed it into a contemporary medium for personal histories as well as cultural agency.