Hero Twins
In most cases, the first subject for a photographer is their family. This conclusion is based in no empirical data, but personal experience and the faint memory of art history classes. In my case, I found most inspiration and willingness in my family and in vendors at street markets. After learning to use a 35mm camera I bought a Polaroid to scout locations and asked my brothers to pose for test shots during several weekends of wandering hours under the sun.
“Framing the creation of the world with the concept of duality is a common narrative resource in Native American folklore from Canada to South America. Navajo, Maya, Wabanaki, Iroquois and other traditions tell stories of hero twins with contrasting themes of light and dark or physical strength and spiritual wisdom. These hero twins use wit, magic and ingenuity to defeat their enemies in their quests to overcome death and complete the cycle of rebirth into the sky.”
The last time I asked my youngest brother what he remembers of our photography walkabouts, he sighed and concluded that they were long and hot. I do remember asking him to wear unreasonable winter outfits in the middle of summer to pose under the midday sun. The idea was to “decontextualize the subject”. I can’t remember where I got that idea from. A friend had suggested a filter combination for the lens of the polaroid camera to produce a chiaroscuro effect. I sandwiched two polarizer filters, a few contrasting gels and searched for areas with strong direct sunlight. I spent long agonizing minutes composing and recomposing the frame. For my brother, motivation and endurance were fueled by reminders between shots of the many flavors of shaved ice that I had promised to buy him. I always kept my promise. We ended all photoshoot outings at the plazas next to churches. These were prime locations for shaved ice stalls, along with cotton candy, churros, fried potato chips, ‘guasanas’, steamed peanuts and ‘tacos sudados’. My brother always managed to get double the snacks out of our negotiations.
“The Navajo heroes Born of Water (Tobadzîschíni) and Monster Slayer (Nayénzgan) are the sons of Changing Woman (Asdzą́ą́ Nádleehé). They visit their father the Sun (Jóhonaaʼéí) to overcome many trials and obtain tools for their quests, including prayer sticks and sunbeam arrows.”
Exhausted and sun burned, we sat on the empty steps at the foot of a church to witness ourselves and others: yawning parishioners, street clowns miming incoherent instructions to children and street vendors exorcising the anxious spirit that had possessed frustrated teenagers that opted for indulging in food and ‘chucherías’ after being rejected by their crushes. My brother and I defaulted, unequivocally, on discussing his favorite superheroes. We held imaginary matches that pitted superpowers against evil plans. Church bells punctuated our fantasies as wild sugar-fueled children were scolded by their parents and punk kids hid in corners to smoke pot before taunting church goers and hippy panhandlers.
“The K’iche’ tell the story of Hunahpú (One Blowgunner) and Xbalanqué (Jaguar-Sun), two brothers that reincarnated over time into versions of themselves accumulating wisdom and skills to defeat the lords of the underworld. After their adventures, Xbalanqué assumes the role of the full moon and Hunahpú becomes the sun.”
After reviewing the parthenon of Marvel and D.C. superheroes, I would remark with my novice knowledge of Greek and Native American mythology. This topic was fascinating to me but not as captivating for him. Years latter, my brother discovered the connection between classic mythology and characters from modern fantasy. We revisited this topic in Colorado a few months ago, eating ice cream after a long day of hiking in the mountains. My brother’s conclusion was that flashy superpowers are not as impressive as the peaceful endurance of nature and the ability of humanity to yield to the unknown. Often, when my creativity hits a wall and I fall into a crater of self doubt, visiting my brothers and wandering through a mountain feels like eating a cup of hibiscus shaved ice in the shade on a Sunday afternoon.
“Drinks Brains is an Arikara hero. His brother Long Teeth was magically generated from the afterbirth. Their father rescued Drinks Brains from the maternal womb and sustained him on a broth made from deer brains. In Wabanaki folklore, Gluskab shifts back and forth between his human form and a sacred weasel. His brother Mateguas, whispers advice and secretes from the underworld. Little Thunders were the Seminole children of the water spirits. One brother was the sound of thunder, the other was the flash of lightning.”