Which statements about the purpose of molas are true? choose all answers that are correct. a. the traditional purpose of molas was to create works of art to place in museums. b. the traditional purpose of molas was to decorate functional items of clothing. c. today, the kuna sell molas to tourists as a way to earn money. d. today, the kuna resist selling molas to tourists in order to preserve tradition.

The correct answers are B. The traditional purpose of molas was to decorate functional items of clothing; and C. Today, the Kuna sell molas to tourists as a way to earn money.

Explanation:

The molas are traditional clothing items that are the symbol of the Kuna people. Know worldwide, the Kunas consist of many layers of needlework fabrics, which are used to adorn and shape the user's body.

They are very colorful and usually have geometric or animals as themes and are tied to the waist or even the back. On the head, the mola is traditionally red.

The Kunas was a very developed civilization, which spread its territories to a vast area in Central America. When Europeans invaded and started to Christianise the locals, the Kunas’ Culture suffered many changes and became marginalized.  

They used to paint their bodies with the same themes of the molas. But as long as their contact with the European rulers has got even higher, they have had to adapt the body paintings to fabrics. With a millenary tradition, the molas are part of the Kuna’s Culture for a short time, with registers of less than 150 years ago.

They still try to resist and persist in their origins, but this population is still marginalized and lives in the countryside. Their economy is based on fishing and subsistence agriculture. To increase their earnings, Kunas usually go to Panama’s Capital or other touristical centers to sell molas.

Today, artisans cooperatives even sell molas on-line and are being very successful.