Final answer:
Mexican murals, primarily created to educate the masses, often reflect social and political themes, utilizing color and composition to convey powerful messages. There are similarities between murals in the United States and Mexico in their use as tools for social commentary, despite cultural differences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The murals created by Mexican muralists, such as those by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros, were deeply rooted in social and political themes. They aimed to educate and inform the largely poor and illiterate population about Mexico's history, culture, and the political climate of the times. In the United States, the Works Progress Administration commissioned murals during the Great Depression that often depicted social and economic issues from a nationalistic perspective.
Mexican muralism portrayed important past events including images from the Aztec civilization, the Mexican Revolution, and representations of the different races and ordinary working people of Mexico, thus capturing the national consciousness post-revolution. The use of color was critical in illuminating these murals, often conveying emotions and highlighting social commentary. Patterns of light and dark as well as the overall arrangement within murals can direct the viewer's eye and contribute to the meaning, often indicating the center of gravity or areas of significance.
Despite the geographical and cultural differences, murals in the Spanish-speaking world and the United States share similarities in their use to communicate societal messages, although they may reflect different priorities and artistic influences.