About Angelita

First Semester at Dominguez Hills, I transferred from Los Angeles Harbor college. I'm happily married to a wonderful man and have a beautiful 8 year old daughter.

Dia De Los Muertos and its popularity

I came across this article and found it both uplifting and curious because it raised certain questions that I never thought to think about. Growing up we never really celebrated Dia de los Muertos but my mother did tell me about it because every year we would visit Mexico in October. The concept of celebrating love ones who have passed instead of morning and mopping over them is amazing. What I found most interesting about this is how the article portrays the Day of the Dead as a “cool holiday.” That concerns me in several ways because lately main street media has revamped the holiday. Disney will release “Coco” in fall 2017 and they base it on Day of the Dead. They also announced that they would be trade marking the phase “Dia de los Muertos” for “various merchandising applications” —-I just hit a wall and fell when I found out!! But of course the Latino community had an up roar about it and they stopped the giant before he would walk away with that idea. Don’t get me wrong, I think its “cool” that people are so interested in our cultures tradition. It’s a great way for them to understand us and appreciate all we have to offer, but when is it too much? I know that the doll franchise “Monster High” came out with a doll who reflects the day of the dead. She looks fashionable but I only hope the audience its intended for understands it. In conclusion I hope we don’t over kill the Day of the Dead and instead show people all the marvelous things it has to offer, both spiritually and physically.

Wallstreet journal http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303843104579167982472259344

Disney Trademark
http://www.theflama.com/mixed-feelings-about-pixar-releasing-coco-a-film-about-dia-de-los-muer-1448630854.html

La Bamba

ritchie

The film “La Bamba” is a musical biography based on the life of Ricardo Valenzuela released on July 24, 1987. Ricardo, or better known as Ritchie later in life, was a 15- year old migrant worker who worked with his mother Connie in the fields. Their life as a migrant worker was typical and habitual, until Ritchie’s stepbrother, Bob, came soaring on his Harley bike and changed their life. He persuades them to leave the camp and move to Pacoima where he has a house. They agree and the next morning they pack up their belongings and leave. Bob also brings along a young women named Rosie Morales who is so tired of the same life, so she hops on the back of the Harley and doesn’t look back. Life soon settles down for them in Pacoima. At the local high school Ritchie meets a young woman by the name of Donna and he falls for her. Although her conservative father is against the relationship, Ritchie proves his love later by writing her a love song with her name in it. Along the path to fame, Ritchie auditions for a local band that turns out to be envious of his talent. Therefore, he decides to go solo and with his family’s support is able to perform for his town. Although his relationship with Bob is rocky, he helps Ritchie and distributes fliers to promote his show. After the show Ritchie is scouted and his big breaks begins, but in order to assimilate he needs a new alias. So, instead of Ricardo Valenzuela, he is now known as Ritchie Valens. As his fame begins to rise, he doesn’t forget about his family. He buys his mom the home she always wanted, he encourages Bob to follow his drawing dreams and he buys himself a new car. His love for Donna was the same as the day they met even though the father disagreed. During his tour he refused to fly but had to compromise a few times. The last one was unfortunately the last gamble of his life. He boarded a small passenger plane in Clear Lake, Iowa, along with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. The Plane was hit by lighting, crashed to the grounds and instantaneously killed everyone aboard.

The fall of Ritchie Valens was a big downfall for Chicano Rock n’ Roll.
Although, Ritchie paved the path for Chicanos into main street America, the struggles he faced are tangible. He had to struggle in accepting his newly found name, Ritchie Valens. He wanted to keep his original name because he was proud of the fact that his father left him with the last name Valenzuela. In the poem “I am Joaquin” by Corky Gonzalez he speaks of standing strong in one’s roots and for all Chicanos to demand acceptance. Obviously Ritchie made the choice that best suited him and he changed his name unwillingly. This is a good example of how Chicanos had the dilemma of trying to assimilate with American culture and trying to stay true to their roots.

I believe the success of Ritchie Valens had to be because the support of his family. Chicano Families have strong family ties to each other. The mother is a single parent who has a strong will and supports her children, even if that means working in fields. Although Bob is his step-brother he returns back from jail to “liberate” his family from poverty. Bobs character has notes of machismo in him because he feels obligated as the oldest man in their life to rescue them. Furthermore, bobs new girlfriend receives the worst end of his machismo. He impregnates her and treats her like a “sex slave” and disregards her feelings. He goes out on binges and demands respect even after Ritchie is now the biggest contributor of the family. Bobs character in the movie is a perfect example of machismo because he rapes women of their freedom.

Response: Group #2 Machismo within our culture

In response to the poem “Machismo is part of our culture” by Marcela Christine Lucero-Trujill, i agree with you and the author in “machismo” is indeed an upbringing that has been in bedded into our culture to seem like a norm.

for example, I grew up in a home with my mother as a single parent. She played dual role, she was the bread winner and also the one to cook, clean and wipe tears away. Although, i grew up with 3 older brothers, they always stepped up to help my mother. We would help cook, clean, and when we were old enough we got jobs to help out economically. I believe that thanks to our mother and the way she raised us, i never experienced “machismo.” but that doesn’t mean i never witnessed it. My best friend is an immigrant from mexico and she arrived here when she was 4 years old. I have personally witnessed in her house hold that they expect for her to clean and cook along side her mother because according to her mother and father  “when you get older your going to do the same for your husband.” I’ve seen her struggle with this because she has 3 brothers who are not expected to help like she does. She does stand up for herself but they see it as her being rebellious. Take it now both our families are from Mexico, but im missing a father. Is the up bringing of “machismo” in bedded into men? women? or we as a culture? i think that my family is evidence, we can change and eventually eliminate “machismo” in our culture. Its important to treat each other as equal and with respect because that highly influences how we become as a person later in life. I am married and my husband and I both share equal weight and the relationship couldn’t be happier.

Latino/as in prime time

In regards to Latino USA stories on perspective Maria Hinojosa Interviews Crisela on bringing her perspective to the work force. Crisela is the lead actress and producer in a sitcom that revolves around her and issues women of color face on a daily. I found this Huffington post article similar to what Crisela struggles with. She speaks of diversity in the work space, in this case Hollywood. The lack of opportunities people of color have in Hollywood is real and evident. According to Wilmer Valderrama ” we have yet to see how many networks and studios are willing to pick up these shows and truly help them become a success.” Crisela also mentions the same topic during her interview, its important to recognized and understand the problem Hollywood has in creating and obtaining opportunities for people of color.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/wilmer-valderrama-on-why-developing-diverse-tv-pilots-isnt-good-enough_us_57056456e4b0b90ac2710eb2#comments