Steinbeck Remixed: Inventing the Californias in Classic Hollywood is a three-part event exploring representations of California history in John Steinbeck film adaptations. The indoor afternoon panel includes screening trailers and features leading film scholars discussing Steinbeck film adaptations and his home movies. Catherine L. Benamou, Anthony Macias, and Laura Isabel Serna, will reflect on historical narratives affixed to Alta and Baja California—as ripe with resources and opportunities, and how these narratives have overdetermined our understanding of California. Following the film panel is a dedicated gallery tour by two of the curators of the 2022-2023 MexiCali Biennial exhibit Land of Milk & Honey, a traveling multidisciplinary arts and culture program featuring works by over 40 artists whose works focus on concepts of agriculture in the regions of California and Mexico. The day’s program culminates in an outdoor screening of artist Emmanuel Ramos-Baraja’s video installation of Steinbeck films remixed to a live soundscape by a live DJ set by Chulita Vinyl Club.
2:30–5:30 pm Scholar Panel & Curator-led Gallery Tour (Registration Required)
6:30–8:00 pm Outdoor Screening Installation (Open to the public)
About
Borderless Cultures, founded by Emmanuel Ramos-Barajas and Annette M. Rodríguez, has hosted film screenings and discussions with independent indigenous and Latinx film makers. We greatly appreciate the support of the University of Texas at Austin’s Department of History and we are grateful for the invitation to participate in the 2022-2023 MexiCali Biennial. We offer thanks to our many collaborators, including MexiCali Biennial curators: Ed Gomez, Luis G. Hernandez, Rosalía Romero, and April Lillard-Gomez, Enid Baxter-Ryce; The Cheech staff: María Esther Fernández, Artistic Director of The Cheech Center, Maryana Carreon, and Annery Sanchez; also, the participating scholars, and The Chulita Vinyl