Smithsonian Celebrates Día de los Muertos Online

smithsonian_latino_centerBy Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum

One of the things I have realized working in social media is that social media is an incredibly powerful tool to promote many events and projects. While most think of social media as simply a way to keep in touch with friends and family and to chat with people you haven’t chatted with in years, social media has it’s place in this time as the means to expose and educate. Working primarily with Tumblr, I see Tumblr as a platform for expression and there is always something for everyone.

Working on the Latino Virtual Museum blog has been an incredibly eye-opening educational experience as well as a means to express thoughts and feelings on Latino culture, STEM education, and notable people in our community. I believe it is important to keep going and writing in order to bring knowledge and information to our viewers. But we’d like our viewers to speak back.

A while back we touched on Dia de los Muertos and it’s influence and blending with tattoo culture. Tattoos are a extreme form of expression and seeing more and more people with Dia de los Muertos themed tattoos is exciting as it shows that people are expression pride in their culture and traditions. If you have a Dia de los Muertos story and tattoo please submit your stories and images for a chance to be feature on the blog!

While tattoos are not a traditional practice for traditional Latino families, one of the most traditional experiences in regards to Dia de los Muertos is the making of altars to commemorate loved ones that have passed. If you have never had the chance to create an altar of your own or at least with your family, here is your chance. Please join us in-world in Second Life at the Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum for the celebration of Dia de los Muertos from October 30 – November 2nd and build an altar of your own for your loved ones.

LVM Dia de los Muertos is free to participate in. All you need to do is make an avatar account and download the Second Life Client and then go directly to our Smithsonian LVM – UTEP Placita, UTEP Miners1 to participate.

Using animation as our platform for storytelling and a way to commemorate Latino figureheads, we have created a Machinima teaser trailer for you the viewers! Featuring La Llorona, we give you a look at the people we will be commemorating this month.

To read more about La Llorona you can go here: http://www.lallorona.com/1legend.html

Zeega is a new platform for expression on the web and is a way to creative interactive stories using audiovisual medium. A new form of social media, we at the Latino Virtual Museum have created a Dia de los Muertos interactive Zeega surrounding the story of La Llorona. Using the audio recording ofBefore the River by Xanath Caraza, we bring you a series of images inspired by the recording. You too can create your own La Llorona Zeega using the same inspiration.

To see our La Llorona Zeega please visit: https://zeega.com/@SmithsonianLVM

For more information on how to create your own La Llorona Zeega visit our Dia de los Muertos Tumblr here: http://lvmdayofdead.tumblr.com/post/64121924570/la-llorona-zeega-interactive

Here is a map of the locations that will be in the Día de los Muertos Festival in Second Life so you can navigate your way around!

This article was originally published in Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum Tumblr] [Photo courtesy Smithsonian Latino Virtual museum]

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