Film Review

After watching the movie La Bamba, I realized that there are many similarities, as well as many connections, between the movie and the readings for this class. There are many prime examples and issues that are expressed throughout the movie. One classic example is that of machismo, which is thoroughly expressed in the poem “Machisimo Is Part of Our Culture” by Marcela Christine Lucero-Trujillo. Richie’s brother, Bob, epitomizes this throughout the entire film. There is also a sense of pride expressed by Richie during the movie. In the film, he expresses his desire to sing the Mexican folk song La Bamba, and use it as his next hit. There is also the example that family is an extremely important part of Chicano culture. This idea is discussed in Chapter 1 of the book, Next of Kin by Richard Rodriguez.

 

Throughout the film, Richie’s brother, Bob, is a perfect example of an individual who is “macho” and a patriarch. It is implied in the movie through subtle clues that Bob views women as nothing more than objects and sexual conquests. Bob is not sympathetic towards his girl friend (who Richie initially had a crush on and was initially dating). This is even the case when his girl friend, Rosie, gets pregnant. Bob is never home, is usually out drinking, and is verbally and sexually abusive towards Rosie. At one point in the movie, Bob even admits that he almost has to rape her in order for her to have sex with him. This is a prime example of machismo. In the book Next of Kin by Rodriguez, he quotes sociologist Alma M. Garcia’s Chicana Feminist Thought: The Basic Historical Writings as comparing Chicano machismo to a form of sexism. Also included in his quote of her writings is sociologist Garcia attributing the formation of Chicana feminism to machismo, and even referring to machismo as “contributing significantly” to its formation.

 

When Richie suggests to Del-Fi Record’s owner Bob Keane that he would like to use the Mexican folk song La Bamba as his next song, Bob refuses and is skeptical of how it will be received by the American Rock n Roll fans. Richie is adamant that he wants to sing the song in Spanish, as he is extremely proud of his Mexican heritage, even despite the fact that he does not speak Spanish. In “El Plan De Aztlan”, the essay calls for the people of Aztlan to be conscious and proud of their historical heritage. In El Plan De Aztlan, it is stated that it is imperative that we do this in order to become successful and free ourselves of the “gabacho”.

 

Lastly, the importance of the family is obvious throughout the movie, La Bamba. Richie expresses many times in the movie his desire to be able to buy his mother a nice, beautiful home. That is his primary and ultimate goal. Another great example of how family is of the utmost importance is how close Richie and Bob are, even despite their differences, arguments, Bob’s jealousy of Richie’s success, and even Bob stealing Rosie from Richie. In the introduction section of the book Next of Kin by Rodriguez, there is a quote from Cherrie Moraga which states “The family is the place where, for better or worse, we learn how to love”. I believe that quote alone describes the ideology of family, especially a Chicano family. Another great quote is in Chapter 1 of the book, which is by Jose Armas, and states “It is impossible to understand the Chicano without understanding the importance of family”. Those two quotes alone speak volumes as to how important family is to Chicanos.

Film Review

After watching the movie La Bamba, I realized that there are many similarities, as well as many connections, between the movie and the readings for this class. There are many prime examples and issues that are expressed throughout the movie. One classic example is that of machismo, which is thoroughly expressed in the poem “Machisimo Is Part of Our Culture” by Marcela Christine Lucero-Trujillo. Richie’s brother, Bob, epitomizes this throughout the entire film. There is also a sense of pride expressed by Richie during the movie. In the film, he expresses his desire to sing the Mexican folk song La Bamba, and use it as his next hit. There is also the example that family is an extremely important part of Chicano culture. This idea is discussed in Chapter 1 of the book, Next of Kin by Richard Rodriguez.

 

Throughout the film, Richie’s brother, Bob, is a perfect example of an individual who is “macho” and a patriarch. It is implied in the movie through subtle clues that Bob views women as nothing more than objects and sexual conquests. Bob is not sympathetic towards his girl friend (who Richie initially had a crush on and was initially dating). This is even the case when his girl friend, Rosie, gets pregnant. Bob is never home, is usually out drinking, and is verbally and sexually abusive towards Rosie. At one point in the movie, Bob even admits that he almost has to rape her in order for her to have sex with him. This is a prime example of machismo. In the book Next of Kin by Rodriguez, he quotes sociologist Alma M. Garcia’s Chicana Feminist Thought: The Basic Historical Writings as comparing Chicano machismo to a form of sexism. Also included in his quote of her writings is sociologist Garcia attributing the formation of Chicana feminism to machismo, and even referring to machismo as “contributing significantly” to its formation.

 

When Richie suggests to Del-Fi Record’s owner Bob Keane that he would like to use the Mexican folk song La Bamba as his next song, Bob refuses and is skeptical of how it will be received by the American Rock n Roll fans. Richie is adamant that he wants to sing the song in Spanish, as he is extremely proud of his Mexican heritage, even despite the fact that he does not speak Spanish. In “El Plan De Aztlan”, the essay calls for the people of Aztlan to be conscious and proud of their historical heritage. In El Plan De Aztlan, it is stated that it is imperative that we do this in order to become successful and free ourselves of the “gabacho”.

 

Lastly, the importance of the family is obvious throughout the movie, La Bamba. Richie expresses many times in the movie his desire to be able to buy his mother a nice, beautiful home. That is his primary and ultimate goal. Another great example of how family is of the utmost importance is how close Richie and Bob are, even despite their differences, arguments, Bob’s jealousy of Richie’s success, and even Bob stealing Rosie from Richie. In the introduction section of the book Next of Kin by Rodriguez, there is a quote from Cherrie Moraga which states “The family is the place where, for better or worse, we learn how to love”. I believe that quote alone describes the ideology of family, especially a Chicano family. Another great quote is in Chapter 1 of the book, which is by Jose Armas, and states “It is impossible to understand the Chicano without understanding the importance of family”. Those two quotes alone speak volumes as to how important family is to Chicanos.

kid-frost

://www.npr.org/2015/10/12/447229966/songs-we-love-brownout-la-raza

In the read Next to Kin, it explains that the Chicano hip-hop and other elements are essential, “socially, politically, and historically,” (Rodriquez 108) giving substance to the music, through its explicit and eye-opening lyrics. Most of the hip hop music was created out of the “impulse of working-class consciousness,” (108) regardless of race and in Kid Frost, “La Raza” illustrates the perspective of the daily lives of someone living in the barrio. Even though the audience of the song is predominately Latino, the black community can also relate to the similarities. There has been an infusion with both Chicano and Afro-America when it comes to hip hop, even though the foundation of hip hop was stemmed from the black community, various elements such as the clothing and lowrider cars came from Chicano culture. 

I came across an article on NPR Latino, “Songs We Love: Brownout, ‘La Raza’,” discussing the 25th anniversary of the song. The evolution of the classic song “Viva Tirado” by El Chicano was sampled by Kid Frost for the iconic, “La Raza” to an Austin-born group Brownout’s “La Raza,” each adding a different element to the song. The commonality of the different versions is that they all discuss issues within their community, Brownout’s song begins with gentrification. Many say that gentrification is the new colonialism and in this song, landlords are seen as “slum lords” by raising the rent incredibly high, in turn, kicking out those who could no longer afford housing. The song talks about our roots, “Latino, Chicano, Mexicano- con sangre de Emiliano, revolucionario,” reminding us of our powerful force in fighting back oppression.A female rapper speaks about the pride in our culture and criticizes the current presidential candidate Donald Trump for his racist slurs about Mexicanos. The song describes the community, “la cause, mi gente, por la raza” of the barrios and the police targeting the young men. It’s nice to see the influence of Kid Frost regenerated 25 years later, illustrating the continuous fight against the oppression that continues currently.

What elements of the song did you connect with?

Día de los Muertos

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Above i added a picture of when I dressed up for the day of the dead and when my brother had made a drawing. Personally, I love the tradition and celebration there is for those who have passed on. This week I chose to look for an article that relates to El día de los muertos article and the one I found is called The Day of the Dead and Sugar Skull tradition. This article shares the history of el Día de los muertos in México and how it came to be and the meaning it has here in the United States because the catholic faith’s belief of angels. It is also mentioned how it is celebrated in different parts for example, it’s celebrated. For children through candy and decorations and then for the adults is celebrated through shared with specific food and alcohol and drinks and the decorations as well. It also talks about how the sugar skill candy tradition became part of el dia de los muertos. Throughout the article there are different and beautiful images of altars and sugar candies. http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/support/dodhistory.html