Sequential Prompts and AI to Illustrate a Mexican Legend Using Syntography

This study explored the use of sequential prompts and the generation of images by means of artificial intelligence as an approach to illustrating oral histories of the legendary, 18th-century Mexican outlaw, Martín Toscano. By combining syntography with historical research, we were able to recreate with precision and in detail the attire and peculiarities of this figure. The main objective of the project was to generate innovative digital content that can serve as support material for university-level teaching on topics related to orality, banditry, and regional history. The methodological approach adopted integrated techniques that generate images through artificial intelligence with an exhaustive analysis of historical sources to construct detailed descriptions of personages and scenarios. Results demonstrate how applying these technologies can enrich our understanding and analyses of oral narratives, while simultaneously providing valuable didactic tools for higher education. A final contribution of this study is that it establishes the basis for future research on the use of artificial intelligence to illustrate oral histories and the potential of this combined approach for teaching history and culture.