La Mission (2009) is a film that ties to the importance of cultural beliefs, as well as issues on homosexuality. Director Peter Bratt presents his views of the San Francisco Mission District, as a person who grew up there. Set in this location, the film gives an accurate and vivid depiction of the culture living there. Peter Bratt delivers a genuine representation of his experiences, linking to the viral subject of homosexuality. La Mission may not be the first film revealing one's sexuality, but it is an impactful one which gave an accurate representation of the problems and familial views of the exposure. The film provides accuracy on the disbelief, anger, and the possible acceptance or rejection of revealing one’s homosexuality to their family. Although family plays a crucial role in this film, the theme of cultural traditions holds more focus. Che's culture is very religious and open in their spirituality and pride. He brings his rosary wherever he goes, prays before every meal, and hangs an abundance of Aztec decor around the house and garage. These depictions of traditions in his life show how dedicated and serious he is about upholding …show more content…
traditions. Unfortunately, when Che finds out that his son, Jes, is a homosexual, this news damages the routines of traditions. Che becomes furious in disbelief, because this news goes against the values of his traditions. During this recent time period, homosexuality was not only shunned upon, but it also angered many people, leading to violence and bullying of the homosexuals. Director Peter Bratt presents several messages including ones that illustrate the integration of homosexuality into a prejudice community and shows that violence is not the answer to problems. Though, the message that really spoke out is that change is inevitable. No matter the instance, traditions and prejudices rise and fall—coming up in viral or nonverbal communication, shifting, with all in unconscious or clear adjustments. Change was clear when Lena moves into the neighborhood, when Jes reveals that he is gay, and when Che does his best to stay sober. Either the same repetition is tested or the people change like the culture and time surrounding them. Che is tested multiple times when everyone begins to see Jes as gay, discriminating him and harassing him. In each case, Che represents his culture; he has to choose between following his old habits and traditions or adapting and changing with the modern times. When Che and Jes attempt to hold a serious conversation on the matter of Jes being gay, Che chooses violence over listening and understanding Jes—ending in pain and resentment. However, once Che accepts Jes for who he is, Che positively changes from being the violent, unconstructive guardian to the sympathetic, mature father. Throughout this problem between Che and Jes, there are two cultures that are depicted in the film: Catholicism and Aztec.
The culture and community that they live in is known for following the religious ways of Catholicism. The audience sees that Che follows the Catholic values through his daily routines, in addition to when resenting his son’s secret. The second culture in the film is Aztec culture, which was shown in the start of the film, with vivid murals on the walls of the neighborhood and the religious dances on the street. These two cultures provide more understanding of their views and attitudes of certain elements, showing reasoning to why Che believed that homosexuality is unacceptable and the revelation scene where community members pay their respects to the deceased teenager with the memorial on the
street. La Mission (2009) is a powerful film that addresses the controversial topics of homosexuality, traditions, and violence with an authentic approach. It presents the notion that homosexuality is not only a social taboo in white communities, as many other films on homosexuality demonstrate, but in communities and cultures of color as well. The film truly represents the issue accurately, with its perfect choice of location, showing the Mission district of strict traditions and cultures as well as the Castro area which symbolizes gay pride in an open and safe way. Overall, La Mission illustrates different themes in an emotional and understanding way that is enjoyable to watch.
While there are many themes that can be found in this novella, Benitez skillfully uses the Mexican culture and the beliefs to improve her story, giving it understanding beyond the traditional American thoughts that many foreign writers are unable to achieve.
In Albert L. Hudarto’s essay, “Sexuality in California 's Franciscan Missions: Cultural Perceptions and Sad Realities,” I initially thought the author would discuss sexuality in the San Francisco Mission district as I probably was not paying too much attention to the title. I also questioned how this article would relate to the first lecture discussed in class about Native American tribes in California. Hudarto clearly states his thesis as “This essay will examine an aspect of the mission experience that has not received much attention -- Indian sexuality and Franciscans ' attempts to control it.” His purpose is to inform reader of California Indians’ sexuality prior to and post integration of Franciscan beliefs, and the effects the Franciscans had on the Indians.
Have you ever disobeyed your families culture? Or ever wanted to forget about something in your past culture? It’s not always easy, to follow traditions, sometimes you want to create or change your lifestyle.In the poem ‘’El Olvido’’ by Judith Ortiz Cofer and ‘’Life In The Age Of The Mimis’’ by Domingo Martinez. The authors of these texts indicate the idea that trying to hide your cultures identity is defiance against your heritage.
The movie starts out with Oshinica (Oshi) and her Sephardic conservative family coming to Mexico from Turkey. Even from the moment they step off the ship, the feeling of not belonging is very obvious. They mainly speak Ladino and are unable to find where they are going in this new, strange place.
These events are of course, an accurate reflection of what similar groups were going through in other parts of the country such as Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico, which have been historically highly populated by Hispanics as well. One of the advantages of the video is that viewers are able to listen to first hand accounts of leaders and participants of this important social movement in Colorado. It is especially touching to see and hear Dr. Priscilla Falcon’s recollection of events when she was informed of her husband’s assassination. No doubt, the actions of leaders such as Ricardo Falcon, Corky Gonzales, Lalo Delgado, and Juanita Herrera greatly improved working conditions as well as education opportunities for Chicanos not only in Colorado, but throughout the United
Julia Alvarez in her book, Once Upon a Quinceañera, explores the quince tradition from cultural, historical and personal angles. Herein, she seeks to clarify some of the myths and ideas that surround this tradition from the notion that quinceañeras are from old Aztec traditions to the idea that this rite has been passed down from one Latino generation to another. She discovers that most contemporary quinces are firsts for many families and are different from those of the past. Consequently, the tradition depicts a group that is experiencing transformation who seek to establish their roots in a past that is somehow bleak. Many have often described the US has a melting pot of cultures. Therefore, Americans from different cultures find themselves amalgamating their values with those of the American society, thus affecting the overall culture of their communities. In Once Upon a Quinceañera, the author demonstrate and applies the cultural myth of melting pot.
The objective of this essay will be to interpret the contradictions of identity produced in the movie Fresa y Chocolate and The Borderlands. When personal identity, is stifled and shaped by nationalistic discourse. By examining the polarised dichotomies of self-identity, juxtaposed against the internalised and dominant hegemonic discourse of imposed National and cultural identity. The paper will endeavour to expose how, the holding and wielded of power creates conflict and revolt between ones individual identity, when set against a dominant and oppressive structure. The paper will first examine the portrayal, in Fresa y Chocolate, of how the desire to express one’s own individuality and personal identity clashes with the widely accepted, but yet orchestrated and imposed, post-revolutionary Cuban national identity. By investigating, how the prescribed discourse from an autocratic Cuban regime, creates an emotional battleground for the expression of the individual. When pitched against the dogma surrounding what it means to be a good and contributing member of a socialist collective. The paper will reveal how, the intertwining personal journeys of Diego and David, creates a world of forced discovery and a transformed realisation of identity for both. Next, the paper will examine how internalised self-identity needs to be a dynamic and fluid battleground. Dominated by a pragmatic desire for survival. How this need for acceptance and existence manifests in a complex web of control and subjugation. Resulting in, what Anzaldua describes in The Borderlands as, creating a world of multiple forc...
Language is a powerful tool. The artful manipulation of language has sparked countless revolutions and has continuously fueled social progression over the course of human history. In Carmen Vàzquez’s “Appearances,” Vàzquez argues that homophobia is a serious concern in society. She rallies for all people, regardless of sexual orientation, to challenge society’s unyielding gender roles and homophobia. Through the art of persuasion, Carmen Vàzquez blended careful diction, emotional stories, and persuasive structure to aggressively address the problem of homophobia both coherently and effectively.
Chicanos and Chicanas are often stereotyped by people based on crude and unfair assumptions but at the same time, these stereotypes are often based on the truth. Movie directors are no exception as they attempt to understand and give representation to entire Chicano/a and Latino/a culture in society. The trailer of the film, La Mission, Che seems to be happy with his life until he realizes his son, Jes, is gay. Che then finds himself in a struggle to accept the homosexuality of his son while at the same time, Jes is struggling to find his own identity and to fit into society. The trailer has distinct ways in how it represents and shows the intersection and issues of gender and sexuality, race and ethics, as well as class. The trailer represents
Additionally, it provides viewers with insight into the world of Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling. The movie displays the elaborate costumes of Luchador wrestlers and juxtaposes it against the simple dress of the religious officials in the monastery. This helps viewers see how different the two cultures are and heightens their sense of sympathy with Nacho because they can clearly see how hard it must be to balance his double life. The monastery allows him to be close to God and feel God’s love but it also forces him to deal with judgement and guilt. In some people’s eyes he is sinning but in Nacho’s eyes he is being selfless and good hearted. I hope other viewers can see the deeper meaning behind this movie and see his religious dilemma and the complexity of his situation rather than focusing on the slapstick comedy and poorly executed
The Hispanic culture has many various factors, but in order to understand the Hispanic culture one must understand what culture is. According to Jarvis (2000) culture is broken down into four characteristics. Teachings learned from birth through language and socialization. The sharing of these learned practices with individuals of the same group. These ideologies are adapted to current environments and other related factors. Finally, culture is influential and constantly
An early principle the film explores is that of ethnic attrition. Leon-Guerrero defined in her book, “Social Problems: Community, Policy, and Social Action” ethnic attrition as “individuals choosing not to self-identify
To help me understand and analyze a different culture, I watched the film Selena. The film tells the life story of the famous singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. Not only does it just tell personal stories from her life, it also gives insight to the Mexican-American culture. Her whole life she lived in the United States, specifically in Texas, but was Hispanic and because of that both her and her family faced more struggles than white singers on the climb to her success. Even though the film is a story about a specific person, it brought understanding into the culture in which she lived. Keeping in mind that these ideas that I drew about the Mexican-American culture is very broad and do not apply to every single person in the culture, there were very obvious differences in their culture and the one that I belong. Mexican-American culture identifies with their family rather than individualized or spiritual identities and the culture has gone through significant changes because of discrimination and the changing demographics of the United States.
But things were slowly evolving in the movies. Independent films had been featuring gays and lesbians as main characters, depicting real life and real relationships. Armistead Maupin’s Tales of The City revolved around a homo-hetero pairing.
Homosexuality in Today's Society. In today's society, there exists a mixture of issues which tend to raise arguments with people all over. There are a handful of topics that always seem to escalate these differences between people to the point where one who earnestly participates in discussion, debate and argument can direct their anger towards their feelings on the person themselves. Some examples of such delicate subjects are the death penalty, abortion, and euthanasia.