"The Puerto Rican Creole House: Its Role in Memory and Significance in Visual Culture."

Visual Culture, Puerto Rico, Creole House, Memory, anti-gentrification

Research Mentor: Ms. Estefania Vallejo Santiago, She, Her, Hers
Department, College, Affiliation: Florida State University, Fine Arts
Contact Email: ev19@my.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Art History, Art, Spanish, Anthropology
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable

Project Description

The Puerto Rican Creole House, an emblematic architectural form, stands as a testament to Puerto Rico's rich cultural and historical tapestry. Over the decades, its visual representations have shifted, reflecting evolving societal, political, and cultural dynamics. The objective of this project is to compile a comprehensive database of visual representations of the Puerto Rican Creole House from the 1950s to the present day, alongside a literature review exploring its social praxis.This project aims to provide a consolidated visual resource that captures the evolution of the Puerto Rican Creole House's representation over seven decades. Furthermore, the literature review will offer insights into the socio-cultural dimensions of this architectural form, emphasizing its role in Puerto Rican identity and community building.

Research Tasks: Literature review:
A systematic review of academic journals, books, and other reputable publications will be conducted. Focus will be on understanding the societal implications, interpretations, and significances of the Creole House within Puerto Rican communities and beyond.
Data collection:
Sources such as archives, museums, publications, and online platforms will be accessed to gather visual materials including photographs, paintings, and digital renderings.
Annotated data for each visual representation will include the date of creation, source, context, and relevant notes on its depiction


Skills that research assistant(s) may need: All skill sets are welcome as this will be a be a project focused on gaining research skills and critical analysis.