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How movies sterortypes ethnic groups
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The story of a young Colombian woman is portrayed in the 2004 film Maria Full of Grace. Directed by Joshua Marston, the drama won the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award for Best World Cinema Dramatic. Protagonist, Catalina Sandino Moreno, also won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. While at first glance viewers of the movie may contend that it is only about drug trafficking, the film is about so much more. The acclaimed piece delivers an authentic look at patriarchy, gender, globalization, and othering. All of theses themes intersect throughout the film. Maria Full of Grace, which is in Spanish with English subtitles, is both moving and realistic. The film gives viewers a true look into what life as a young global south woman …show more content…
Othering is something that is easy to do. People living in the United States tend to have to a very ethnocentric view regarding the rest of the world. In many cases, members of our culture pass judgment on cultures that are different from ours. Hence, we think in terms of “us” being better than “them.” Maria Full of Grace challenges these confines by depicting Maria as an ordinary young woman. Cynthia Sorrensen, who is an author for Johns Hopkins University’s Project Muse website does a great job at explaining this. In regards to the film, she states, “It opens discussion on the ‘othering’ in the illegal drug trade and industry and larger society. There is much at stake portraying mules, intermediaries, and even drug lords as ruthless evil people” (Sorrensen). This is due to the fact that such representations help encourage American citizens rally behind the efforts such as the War on Drugs without forcing people to take an introspective look at the drug problems that affect our country domestically. This film does not choose to portray the characters in film as violent and merciless. “Instead, it depicts many of these people as quite ordinary, as more or less filling the voids in society which its oppressive economic …show more content…
Activists are people who see a problem and actually do something about it. While there is a lack of activism that specifically focuses on women in drug trafficking, there is an organization called the Latin America Working Group works to battle oppressions that are seen in the film. Based in Washington DC, the activist group, “brings U.S. civil society groups and citizens together to influence U.S. policy to promote peace and justice in Latin America” (Latin America Working Group). Their mission of peace and justice in South American countries can help women like Maria. The Latin American Working Group helps to bring awareness about other countries to citizens in the US. This can help to create better relations and understanding between Americans and the many South American citizens involved. By promoting peace, the group is working to quell some of the violent and illegal activities that are taking place in Latin America. If further measures are taken and more people support the cause, it is possible for activities such as drug trafficking to lose their vigor. This would mean that less women would be recruited to work as drug mules. By supporting justice, the Latin American Working Group is supporting women in countries such as Columbia. The activists who work for this group realize that inequality exists in Latin American society, especially in the workplace. If women who are in
As much as men are working, so are women, but ultimately they do not face the same obstacles. For example, “Even if one subscribes to a solely economic theory of oppression, how can one ignore that over half of the world's workers are female who suffer discrimination not only in the workplace, but also at home and in all the areas sex-related abuse” (Moraga 98). This gives readers a point of view in which women are marginalized in the work place, at home, and other areas alike. Here Moraga gives historical accounts of Chicana feminists and how they used their experiences to give speeches and create theories that would be of relevance. More so, Moraga states how the U.S. passes new bills that secretly oppress the poor and people of color, which their community falls under, and more specifically, women. For instance, “The form their misogyny takes is the dissolution of government-assisted abortions for the poor, bills to limit teenage girls’ right to birth control ... These backward political moves hurt all women, but most especially the poor and "colored." (Moraga 101). This creates women to feel powerless when it comes to control one’s body and leads them to be oppressed politically. This places the government to act as a protagonist, and the style of writing Moraga places them in, shines more light to the bad they can do, especially to women of color. Moraga uses the words, “backward moves”
“Like Water for Chocolate” by Laura Esquivel, is a beautiful romantic tale of an impossible passionate love during the revolution in Mexico. The romance is followed by the sweet aroma of kitchen secrets and cooking, with a lot of imagination and creativity. The story is that of Tita De La Garza, the youngest of all daughters in Mama Elena’s house. According to the family tradition she is to watch after her mother till the day she does, and therefore cannot marry any men. Tita finds her comfort in cooking, and soon the kitchen becomes her world, affecting every emotion she experiences to the people who taste her food. Esquivel tells Titas story as she grows to be a mature, blooming women who eventually rebels against her mother, finds her true identity and reunites with her long lost love Pedro. The book became a huge success and was made to a movie directed by Alfonso Arau. Although they both share many similarities, I also found many distinct differences. The movie lost an integral part of the book, the sensual aspect of the cooking and love.
In countless circumstances, especially in the work force, there are oppressors and there are those who are oppressed against. If one chooses to permit the act of being demoted upon then they will continue to be underestimated and continue to be mistreated. For those who are petrified of speaking out regarding unjust situations they endure, there are people that are willing to promote and try to stop the unjust ways people face when working. Generally in the society we live in today, men do not think women are in any way superior or could make a difference; whether that be in politics or the type of profession that women chooses to practice. Certain people cannot comprehend or step out of this negative critical view point they have towards women because of what they believe is correct and because they picture women as useless objects that should not be taken seriously. You do not hear about many women activists, but there is an abundant amount that actually stepped fourth to alter their community for the ones they care about. Yet Dolores Huerta is a Hispanic female who strived for improving the rules in regards to the way people treat their employers. There was an abundant amount of Mexican-Americans that were being mistreated and were expected to work long periods of hours in the heat, which were farm laborers; all that pain and struggle to receive barely enough to support your family off of. She knew it would take various extents of struggle and sacrifice to reach the goal of altering the union workforce regulations. Dolores Huerta, alongside Cesar Chavez pursued this goal non-violently in order to better the employers because she knew it not only affected them but their families as well. While Dolores Huerta is known as a Hispa...
Maria Full of Grace, written and directed by Joshua Marston, is a film portraying the Colombian drug trade. Marston being born in the U.S, includes some international socially fragile aspects within this film. He shows the globalization of the flower and drug trade, within Colombia. Incidentally showing the globalization of the film industry as well. As this film reaches towards a specific audience who are sentimental to the negative activities in the global south. Marston includes an unrealistic portrayal about immigrants in America. Plus, he depicts the U.S. as a safe haven for all those who struggle. Making Maria Full of Grace a perfect film to analyze, pointing out how Marston unsuccessfully does his job, and instead glorifies the U.S. Focusing on all the positive aspects this country offers, when we might be the source of the problem.
Not many Spanish women do what Ana did for multiple of reasons, if they got to see this film they would be inspired by the message. The message in this movie would help many women realize they can do more, and to not be afraid to be a little rude if they have to. Sometimes a woman has to be rude to get anywhere, for they get Knocked down by the community. The cultural norms of the Spanish community need to make more progress, and at the moment Spanish women are fighting to make that progress
However, it wasn’t an effortless process for these women to gain respect. These women experienced sexism and were often discredited for their work. During the El Salvadoran Civil War, sexism was prominent. The women working in groups such as the FMLN were trying to change these perceptions, and create a more equal life for the women in El Salvador. Although sexism was still very common, the FMLN and the women involved were working very hard and their contributions were beginning to be noticed.
In one portion of the documentary, we see an excerpt from one of President Richard Nixon’s speeches on how he feels about America’s ongoing battle with drug abuse. In the speech, he declared that this so called “war” with drug addiction needed to be handled while proclaiming that drug abuse was “America’s public enemy number one”. Years later, the war on drugs has only become even more of a controversial issue in the United States with the consequences spanning and reaching particular groups and hinting that they are more so involved than others.
...ighted by the director’s choices in cinematic elements. Although food and cooking are often associated with the oppression and generalization of Hispanic women, Like Water for Chocolate captivates an empowering view of women using intimate elements such editing, lighting, and setting in order to bring focus to the power of the food. The editing constantly brings attention back to the food. The setting reminds the viewer that the food impacts every aspect of the film. The lighting highlights the importance of the food over every other element. Every aspect of this film is aimed to show that the Hispanic woman, even in her typical role is a strong and central figure in the Hispanic culture. There is power in her life and everyday jobs that has a great impact on everyone around her, which is the precise thought that this film conveys and makes apparent to each viewer.
...of mixing the cultures and the identities of women. Her voice is what emphasizes the article to show how the goal is to redistribute the language and culture not criticizing the “New World”. This is what affects our future as a whole and challenges us to be “bridge the gap between marginal Latino/a culture and the American mainstream.” If society does not at least try to blend together, then it will cause into a huge war that possibly could never end. Just being that woman to show her passion and influence, can cause a great impact and force this world to acknowledge we all are the same.
The fight for gender equality along with women’s rights has been a battle for centuries. Over time many, women activists and organizations have step forward to help in advancing women’s progress in the world today. One organization that has made a tremendous contribution and has been extremely influential for women is the National Organization for Women (NOW). The organization has been around since 1966 and has more than 500,000 members and more than 500 local and campus affiliates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia (National Organization for Women, 2012). NOW’s organization claims that there is a social problem of gender inequality and women’s rights and their goal is to “take action” by bringing about equality for all women. The National Organization for Women has six priority issues and they include: constitutional equality amendment, reproductive rights, racism, lesbian rights, violence against women and economic justice(National Organization for Women, 2012). The organization has been quite successful in raising awareness and creating social change over the years. By using the Social Problems Process to analyze the organization it would then become evident as to why NOW has been so successful, where they still need to improve and where they are heading.
One of the issues that was raised is the idea of the relationship between femininty, technology and sexuality. The relationship between all of these qualities converse in one character, Maria. The real Maria has many roles thoughout the movie, including one who cares for the workers children, a preacher of peace for the workers, and one who loves Freder. The machi...
The documentary is about a homeless undocumented girl, Izucar but the documentary film also seeks other issues like poverty, domestic violence, child labor and suicide. Throughout the film, Izucar speaks directly to the camera as she discusses her family, memories and
Knowledge is power. An example of awareness producing activism can be seen in the war against Iraq. When one learns of an unjust war being carried out they, now knowing the circumstances, will act as they will to stop the injustices occurring. The same can be seen in women’s activism. When people become educated on the topic of women’s rights, they come to understand the circumstances and can act accordingly to help stop the problems from carrying on. Anne-Marie O’Connor’s article about the maquiladora women in Mexico and their terrible working conditions brought awareness about, as well as Sam Dylan’s article on the mistreatment of these women.
The plot is about fighting against a drug lord who wants to stop the war on drugs, for her own benefit of course. The drug lord, Poppy, creates a life threatening strain of drugs meant to take over the world unless the President of the United States agrees to end the war on drugs. The president refuses and puts all of the world at risk because of his own vain nature. Although this movie is not here to shine light on the crisis of drugs, Poppy’s approach to the war on drugs is intriguing. The war on drugs is constantly talked about and is why many people are crowded into prisons.
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is a movie enriched with zany characters with men who have the destructive cycle of machismo and women whom are victims to it. The richly applied satire has made this movie one of Almodovar’s best as Ernesto Acevedo-Munoz accurately comments, “Almodóvar unmasks the manufactured centralized national identity seen in Francoist cinema while proposing a revision of Spain's cultural identity in the recent past" (Acevedo-Munoz 26).” This movie displays magnificently how all boundaries linked to Spain’s fascist and modernistic heritage are all but in the past allowing the Modiva to establish Spain’s new identity. Pepa is introduced with heavy dialogue, “I couldn’t save the couple I cared about most” a dramatic and tragic entrance as she narrates in first person character. The manner in which she speaks is as if she had befriended those in the audience years ago.