‘Propaganda is a much maligned and often misunderstood word. The layman uses it to mean something inferior or even despicable. The word propaganda always has a bitter aftertaste.’ Joseph Goebbels knew very well of this bitter aftertaste, for he was the appointed Minister for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda in Adolf Hitler’s first government. (Sooke 2014) Though propaganda often brings to mind coercion or at least, serious indoctrination, the Zapatistas in Mexico are a prime example of an oppressed people whose agency creatively counters constraint by the hegemonic social systems. Instead, through their own propaganda, marginalized peoples publicize issues such as the detrimental effects of globalization…show more content… Not only have they made their struggle known to their communities and the world, they communicate the idea that their social work is important and essential to the success of the movement. Women embroider scenes they witness themselves or draw inspiration from testimonies from other members of the community. The depiction of a woman in the place of a man in the piece observed is an expression of the ideology of women Zapatistas through semiotics. The piece is encoded with symbols to imply a celebration of the active and essential role women have played in the Zapatista revolution. The woman in the center proudly styles her heritage, represented by her traditional garments, and her political affiliation, represented by the Zapatista flag and red flower.
The Zapatista flag the woman in the piece holds, has its own indexicality as well. A red, five pointed star is widely used to point to an association with communist philosophy, as is the clenched fist, the hammer and sickle and the color red in general. The five points on the star are usually interpreted as representing the five fingers of the worker’s hand. A detail which surely resonated with the Zapatistas in their peasant revolution. Once again a symbol is used as an index that reveals the ideology of the…show more content… Melipona bees are stingless bees native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and many parts of South America. They pollinate plant species that are native to these regions more efficiently. The bee products are then used for cultural and medicinal purposes. Zapatistas in Chiapas, there is an active attempt to revive the ancient tradition of bee keeping. (The Other Bee, 2014) Reviving these customs offers indigenous people an identity, a connection to the land and a sense of order and control where they may feel
