Dr. Mathew Sandoval lecture Oct. 25

Join us at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25, in the Lam Museum (Palmer Hall) for “Day of the Dead: From Ancient Ritual to Hollywood Spectacle,” a lecture by Dr. Mathew Sandoval, Associate Teaching Professor at Arizona State University’s Barrett Honors College.

For centuries Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico and the United States have functioned primarily as a form of ritual or festival.  However, in places like Mexico City, LA, San Antonio, Michoacán, and elsewhere, Day of the Dead is now staged as a form of spectacle.  Not only are local celebrations of the holiday increasingly mediated via television, the internet, social media, and virtual reality, they also tend to simulate Hollywood productions. 

Dr. Mathew Sandoval will discuss what these transformations mean for the future of Day of the Dead and how they affect the meaning and integrity of our cultural heritage.

All are welcome at this free public event, which is cosponsored by Wake Forest University Departments of Spanish and Anthropology, the Latin American and Latino Studies program, and the American Ethnic Studies program.