Cal State L.A. pays homage to Michael D. Coe

2013 symposium brings together scholars, academics in Mesoamerican studies

michael-coeLos Angeles, CA – Featuring 15 distinguished scholars who are leaders in the field of Mesoamerica, Cal State L.A.’s Art History Society presents “Jaguars, Eagles and Feathered Serpents: Mesoamerica Re-explored,” on Friday and Saturday, April 12-13.

The 2013 Mesoamerican Symposium, which pays homage to the life and work of renowned archaeologist Michael D. Coe, will take place in the Golden Eagle Ballroom on the CSULA campus. Coe will be presented with the Tlamatini Award for lifetime achievement during the Saturday program. Tlamatini is a Nahua word that means wise man or teacher.

One of the most prestigious Mayanists of all time, Coe is a Charles J. McCurdy Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University.  His research interests focus on the pre-Spanish civilizations of Mesoamerica, especially the Olmec and Maya; and on the Khmer civilization of Cambodia. He has been a member of the National Academy of Sciences since 1986. Coe’s books include The MayaMexicoThe True History of ChocolateBreaking the Maya CodeReading the Maya Glyphs, and Angkor and the Khmer Civilization.

The sessions at the two-day event will cover the following topics:

*  “The Nunnery Quadrangle at Uxmal: Kingship, Court, and Cosmos in a Puuc Palace Complex,”

 “Myth and Ritual of Access to Power in the Central Part of the Codex Borgia: A Proposal,”

*  “The Toltec Ballgame: Rewards, Titles and Position in Postclassic Society,”

*  “The Millenialist Utopia of the Indian Jerusalem: Indian-Christian Art and Transculturation in 16th Century Mexico,”

*  “The Bonampak Murals: A Performance at the Maya Court,” and more.

Among the renowned cast of scholars at the symposium are Robert H. Cobean, director of the Tula Archaeological Project and a member of Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History), and Mary E. Miller, dean of Yale College at Yale University and the highly-esteemed author of The Art of Mesoamerica, and An Illustrated Dictionary of the Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya (co-authored by Dr. Karl Taube).  In addition, Oswaldo Chinchilla of Yale; Jeff K. Kowalski of Northern Illinois University; Stephen D. Houston of Brown University;Guilhiem Olivier of UNAM; Juan Miro of University of Texas, Austin, and many others will be participating.

For more about the symposium, go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/AHS-Art-History-Society-at-CSULA/425830835314.

Admission is $15, and $10 for students. This is cosponsored by the Department of Art and the College of Arts and Letters at Cal State L.A. To register, please emailAHSMeso2013@gmail.com.

The University is located at the Eastern Avenue exit, San Bernardino Freeway, at the interchange of the 10 and 710 Freeways. Public (permit dispensers) parking is available on the top level of Parking Structure C. For campus maps and directions:http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/maps/cslamap.php.

Gary C. Daniels

Gary C. Daniels is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated television, video and multimedia writer and producer. He has a M.A. degree in Communications from Georgia State University in Atlanta, a B.F.A. degree in TV Production from the Savannah College of Art and Design and an A.A. degree in Art from the College of Coastal Georgia. He has appeared on the Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, Science Channel and History Channel. His History Channel appearance became the highest-rated episode in the network's history. He has a passion for Native American history and art. He is the founder and publisher of LostWorlds.org.