La Pocha Nostra

La Pocha Nostra, the all encompassing arts initiative started by Guillero Gomez-Peña, uses shock value within the realm of human display to parody history. This display of the human body immediately brought to mind Saartjie Baartman, the "hotentot venus" who was put on display around Europe because of her body diverged from what Europeans were used to.

By altering a historical event, adjusting it to make it relevant to La Pocha Nostra and inviting audience participation, intercultural relations are able to take place. Using performance art as a medium to critique history seems like an effective method of bringing light to an underrepresented topic. But for those that are ignorant, is the meaning lost?

Additionally, because La Pocha Nostra is a multicultural organization that crosses multiple boundaries, it can be considered Chicano in the US and something else elsewhere. Does having this morphing ability, take away from La Pocha's message?