In this screen, Rice matches Chagoya’s selected imagery to a highly personal monologue by Gomez-Peña that tells the story of the immigrant in America, his hopes and dreams, his struggles and failures, and his fight to find a place for himself in an alien culture. The nostalgic longing for home is particularly strong in this piece, weaving between classic Mexican Icons such as La Catrina and the Virgin of Guadalupe, and ancient Aztec symbols like the serpent and eagle. Yet hints of the political remain: as Gomez-Peña speaks about facing racism, Mickey Mouse and Goofy seem to mock the Mexican figures, while a combative Wonder Woman threatens the Virgin. Chagoya often uses popular American cartoon characters as symbols of western political and economic oppression.
