Desperado is a film directed by Robert Rodriguez. The definition of desperado is a desperate or reckless person. This especially describes a criminal, bandit or lawbreaker. Although this is the perfect name for the film, it is quite stereotypical that the cast for this move is completely portrayed by Mexican actors. The film follows El Mariachi who is played by Antonio Banderas, as he seeks revenge on a drug lord named Bucho (Joaquim de Almeida) for the death of his wife. It is a mercilessly violent movie that holds nothing back.

Every actor holds some stereotypical notion to their character’s identity. The bar owners are uneducated, dirty and are believed to urinate in their customers’ beers. They are also depicted as extremely hostile. In one scene, there are a group of Americans complaining about the service. One of the bartenders is quick to suggest that they shoot them. But the idea is dismissed.

El Mariachi epitomizes the idea of a machismo. He is tough, and dedicated to getting his revenge. In one scene, he even avoids bullets by simply walking away from them. He is certainly an extremely violent character. In the end, it is revealed that Bucho is actually El Mariachi’s brother. At first, he is reluctant to kill. But once Bucho gives El Mariachi an ultimatum that involves killing Carolina, El Mariachi has no choice but to kill his brother. This particular scene reminded me of American Me, and how the gang members would kill anyone to have a peace of mind or to be faithful to their gang. This idea of killing whomever to get to a certain position in life is a pervasive stereotype among Mexican Men.

Even Carolina, who is played by Salma Hayek, is a seemingly guiltless library owner. However, she is associated with drugs. She is one of the only female characters in a film surrounded by violent men. She also reminds me of the super-sexy typical Latina that is usually casted in Hollywood films. She has a Spanish accent and is constantly showing skin. Her tops are low-cut and her stomach is always revealed.

There is also a young boy who El Mariachi calls Nino that helps Bucho sell drugs. When El Mariachi furiously asks him what he gets from partaking in such activities, the young boy answers, “My father doesn’t have to work. He watches TV.” One can certainly say that this type of mentality demonstrated by his father is similar to the “lazy Mexican” notion.

Bucho, in my opinion, posses the most stereotypes that society commonly associate to Mexican men. For one, he a ruthless, trigger-happy, drug lord who has difficulties controlling his anger. In one particular scene, Bucho is furious after his team unsuccessfully kills El Mariachi. He states nonchalantly, “You drive around town, you see someone you know shoot them! How hard is that?” He then proceeds to demonstrate that exact scenario on one his members in his crew.

https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/10341

http://cevdetarkun.weebly.com/1/category/desperado/1.html

The Mexican is a film about a pistol named “The Mexican”. The pistol, which is believed to have a curse, is highly sought out on the black market. Throughout the film, many locals recognize the pistol and each one recalls a different story behind it. Although they are different, they all possess similar themes. Ultimately, it is revealed that a poor gunsmith, made the pistol. It was supposed to be a wedding gift for a nobleman who sought to marry the gunsmith’s daughter. The protagonist, Jerry Welbach who played by Brad Pitt, is assigned to acquire the pistol for his employer Margolese, Gene Hackman. Months before, Welbach crashed into Margolese while he had a person tied up in the trunk. Since Margolese went to jail and it was technically Welbach’s fault, Margolese forced Welbach into a life crime. The film follows Welbach’s journey as he attempts to acquire the pistol. For the purpose of this blog, it is important to recognize the portrayal of Americans in a Mexican setting as well as the roles of Mexicans and Mexico.

When Jerry Welbach arrives in Mexico, he waits to receive his rental car. He is given a Chrysler but Welbach insist on renting something a “little more Mexican”. The customer service agent proceeds to speak in Spanish telling Welbach that he knows nothing about Mexico and Mexican culture except Speedy Gonzalez. He then gives Welbach an El Camino and warns him in Spanish that he going to get himself into a lot trouble in Mexico. Later when Welbach friend goes to Mexico to aid him, he also asks the customer service agent for something more Mexican. This film does a great job at identifying the notions that Americans have towards Mexicans and Mexico. Mexican and Mexican culture has hardly had its spotlight in American media. Speedy Gonzalez is perhaps the only icons that every American can identify to Mexicans.

The primary settings of the film take place in some of the most dilapidated parts of Mexico. These destitute settings not only make one impose characteristics on the characters living there, but it also reinforces the idea of widespread poverty in Mexico. Media has a compulsive tendency to portray Mexicans as violent criminals uneducated, drug dealers or extremely poor. Since the characters against Welbach possess some of these attributes, it is extremely easy to believe they are the bad guys and cannot be trusted. When one first views this film, it is inevitable to assume that the groups of Mexican locals trying to retrieve the gun are criminals. However, in the climax of the film, it is revealed that the group of men was actually doing it for an honorable purpose.

In one particular scene, a corrupt officer puts Welbach in jail after seeing blood on his passenger seat. The officer later releases Welbach but keeps the pistol. This perhaps is another highly believed stereotype. Although his actions were indeed corrupt, this is a reoccurring theme in films involving Mexican officers. Later, the cop sells the pistol the pistol to a local merchant for an undisclosed amount. Then Welbach and his assailant, Ted, try to retrieve the pistol. Upon entering, Ted immediately draws his weapon and proclaims “I no f*** around. Comprende? Gun. Gun. Loaded. Bang. Bang. You dead.” The merchant responds with disdain “Do you have a speech impediment?” There is a common idea to believe that Mexicans and Mexican Americans are incapable of speaking proper English. Again, these ideas are highly formulated through the Mexican representation in media.

(Sorry for the blurry video it was the only one I could find) This is the official story behind the curse of “The Mexican”.

Hello everyone! To get started I would like to confess how much I have been enjoying Dominguez Hills. This is my third semester including winter and I have never enjoyed school this much. Every professor I have had the experience of having, has been an absolute pleasure. They have been compassionate, dedicated and inspirational. One professor even said her favorite students of all the universities she has taught at, are Dominguez Hills students because we actually care about our education and like the professors, we are dedicated to our dreams an aspirations. I honestly felt like she described me in a nutshell.

Some of my favorite things are; Mexican food, the color pink, sci-fi movies, kitchen appliances, animals and books. I love cats but I think I may be allergic.. ugh! My boyfriend thinks I am very simple and boring because I really like simple things. He knows me very well and knows how to keep me happy. A few weeks ago, he bought me a pressure cooker for our kitchen and my home life has pretty much been focused on that. Hahaha. That thing is amazing!! I made my famous chili beans (its actually my mom’s recipe with a little more spices) in under an hour. It usually takes me a whole day to make creamy thick beans.

I absolutely LOVE my siblings. I have 3 sisters and 1 brother and another half-brother, whom I rarely speak to. Sometimes I feel like me and my sisters’ relationships are abnormal because we are so close. We never fight and we speak to each other every single day. Whenever I call my oldest sister in particular, she always answers “you’re going to live a long life, because I was just thinking about you!” It is like we can sense each other’s thoughts and feel each other’s emotions. If there is one thing that I want anyone to take from this, it is that I love my siblings more than anything. And every success, every A, every business move an any other important move I make in my life is always made with them in the back of my mind.