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Entry twelve: Latinx Pop Culture (Ch. 33-35)

After reading chapters thirty-three  through thirty-five of The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Popular Culture the things that I pulled out from this read or that were interesting to me were the ways in which the author monsters and phantasmagoric creations play a huge role in latinx culture. The hierarchy of knowledge in the US has a unique correlation to latinx. Oftentimes latinx knowledge is not recognized and considered invalid or believed to have no purpose. We see this with other ethnicity groups and it reflects who has power and who defines expertise. Which in the US is expected to be white people and therefore deem people of color’s knowledge to be useless or not valid. While society labels monsters as superstitions or folk myths it feeds into the hierarchy of knowledge, when these creations play a critical role in latinx culture. Chapter thirty-four discusses Narco Cultura, as it discusses the way in which Narco cultures influence society. As narco culture influences power, fashion, music, and television.It discusses the role and character that a coyote holds. As they are used to smuggle migrants between murders.They are seen as herosum for some individuals as they are the ticket to a new country. They are not for others as they use their power and other vulnerability to take advantage as they take payments for their deed. This was relatable because many family members have told stories la llorona and so forth. As well as knowing many individuals, family and friends who have used coyote generations of generations to come to the U.S.

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Entry eleven: Latinx Pop Culture (Ch. 29-31)

After reading chapters twenty-nine through thirty-one of The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Popular Culture the things that I pulled out from this read or that were interesting to me were the ways in which the author discusses latinx and American sports. Sports has become a platform for representation of latinx in the US. Many latinx athletes fought through the racial injustices, prejudices of others to become the players that they are. As latinx players find themselves in areas of sports where they haven’t been before they tend to receive backlash. This chapter reminds me of the way in which players of color face higher expectations and the pressure of being perfect. When these players disrupt that or fall short they are seen less that they are lucky for the opportunity they were given when reality is that they earned their spot to be there. There has been an increase in lattinx sport athletes in the US. An example of an athlete that is constantly challenged and setting new expectations of what it means to be an athlete and a latinx athlete is Carnelo Alverez. As he has broken records, received titles and shows so much pride for his Mexico country. Many admire the changes he has made, he offers a sense of hope and belonging. These athletes have helped challenge cultural stereotypes, their intelligence and abilities as athletes. Chapter thirty-one discusses the influence of saints on latinx. That individuals tend to leave offerings. Being that I was an athlete myself, you do recognize the difficulty in becoming a professional athlete, especially if you are a person of color. Like mentioned before this industry wants a diverse athlete when it is convenient for them. People of color that are athletes are breaking systematic issues that deteriorate the convenience aspect.

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Entry ten: Latinx Pop Culture (Ch. 26-28)

After reading chapters twenty-six through twenty-eight of The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Popular Culture the things that I pulled out from this read or that were interesting to me were the ways in which the author shares how Raza rockabilly is influenced by unique latinx transformed scene styles, stances, and sounds. This influence was so big that it created the language of razabilly. An example of Razabilly is the known performer ‘El Vez’ who gave a new and stronger symbolism of rockabilly. Another example of a Razabilly performer was Robert Williams who used a country boogie style. Wild Records is an international rockabilly scene that is made up of mainly latinx LA musicians. As chapter twenty-seven talks about the bodies in motion, discussing the issue of migration. Migration has placed danger, fear, and flight on this community. While this is taking place social media has become a big platform for political protest and relatable vision arts. An example of political latinx protest on social media are the Puente Movement. While chapter twenty-eight mentions latinx fashion and self-styling practices. This has transcended popular culture and politics. Latinx fashion has addressed the stereotypical images that are placed on women. Reading these chapters were enjoyable because it showed the different ways in which latinx culture has integrated their way into certain platforms whether they were welcomed or not. It shows how latinx culture has raised in taking a stance against issues that are faced by the community. Whether it is fashion to influential music, latinx are paving a way.

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Entry nine: Latinx Pop Culture (Ch. 23-25)

After reading chapters twenty-three through twenty-five of The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Popular Culture the things that I pulled out from this read or that were interesting to me were the ways in which the author shares the ways in which individuals view low riders. Those that devote time to lowrider art express it as a lifestyle. This lifestyle practices a unique form of keeping tradition, culture alive, and community. As it presents a new family and fellowship of art and cars. Lowriders also display authenticity and politics, in the ways in which this art form started and how it was used in policial ways for social justice. As lowriders are typically gender specific, women are not afraid to disrupt those spaces. Women writers shared their insight of their experiences as women lowriders. As they shared their Chicana pride, they gave critiques of masculinism. When letters weren’t being answered or addressed, more women would share their perspectives. A documentary was even put out called The Unique Ladies as it shared the frustrations many ladies had as they were trying to get into lowrider clubs, and when they couldn’t they decided to form their own lowrider club. These chapters gave a great perspective as throughout this course we’ve discussed the different ways of latinx expression. We’ve discussed how there is misrepresentation and lack of inclusion of latinx. These chapters get deeper as they discuss the ways in which latinx women are underrepresented in these spaces. As they hold intersecting identities they fight the oppressions and barriers of being latinx and women in these spaces. It sure doesn’t spot them as they fight to integrate into these spaces with their latinx pride while creating their own spaces as well.

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Entry eight: Latinx Pop Culture (Ch. 20-22)

After reading chapters twenty through twenty-two of The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Popular Culture the things that I pulled out from this read or that were interesting to me were the ways in which the author discusses the ways in which photography is an intense form of activism. A photo can say a million words. As Montoya’s photographs are displayed in this chapter you can see the ways in which they can be a meapo of activism in the Chicano Movement. The image of the Women Boxer shares the experiences and story of a working mother having to work multiple jobs to provide for her children while also fighting towards her dream of being a boxer. As Montoya expressed boxing in the lens of an art form, dance and to give the women a sense of history. As Montoya expresses dignity and history through this photo. Montoya explores the limits of photography to critique race, class, and gender oppressions and expectations. Montoya examines the ways in which race, colonialism and religion has shaped Chicanx culture and art. Chapter 21 expresses the ways in which GMO have taken over traditional latinx foods like crops of corn. While also sharing the ways in which decolonizing dishes can be beneficial to the environment, culture and personal health of latinx and others. These chapters gave a new and insightful perspective to photographs and foods. It enriches the uniqueness of the arts in photography and culinary arts. It explains the ways in which we can reclaim our history and stories.

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Entry seven: Latinx Pop Culture (Ch. 17-19)

After reading chapters seventeen through nineteen of The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Popular Culture the things that I pulled out from this read or that were interesting to me were the ways in which the author shares how latinx have contributed to popular art through muralism, graffiti, street art, tattooing, and performance art. This chapter gets into how popular culture is dominated by those in power. As that is the case latinx cultures and traditions are being resistant to this and every day making an impact on popular culture. Latinx artists incorporate ways to construct their individual and collective identities and create new ways of viewing social and historical point of views. Chapter 18 discusses the ways in which latinx pop culture is full of diversity and there are no single languages, time periods, or sources that make this are specific to latinx, it’s the diversity itself that does. The expectations placed by society are what these artists are breaking barriers too because each experience and story is unique. The social justice movement within pop culture is the exclusion of latinx from American media and culture. The art being presented fights against. This form of activism is used to give latinx more rights and visibility on a political and social standpoint. These chapters are relative to our society because they exhibit the ways in which latinx culture is so rich in art and displace this in our practice as well as in our fights towards social justice and inclusion.

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Entry six: Latinx Pop Culture (Ch. 14-16)

After reading chapters fourteen through sixteen of The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Popular Culture the things that I pulled out from this read or that were interesting to me were the ways in which the author talks about how space and land play a significant role in the discussions of identity in regards to Chicanx culture and literature. Digital media hold numerous classifications and historical lineages according to the reading. This chapter explored whether or not technology and cyberspace changes how race is represented and presented to society. As digital media and cyberspace are one of the most influencing platforms because they are one of the spaces in which we connect to others across geographic and global boundaries, we should pay attention and explore the ways in which latinidad shows up in these spaces. This chapter examines the ways in which latinx can be understood to construct or challenge ideas of what it means to be latinx. Amongst the youth or younger generations the internet is used for political reasons or activism while by older generations internet usage is typically for translation purposes. Younger generations have also started to use the platform to start creating relatable content to their identifying communities. From personal experience I have seen a rise in latinx social media content. We see a lot more youtube, tiktok, and social media influences that are latinx. Sharing content of what it means to live in a latinx household. We also see with this content the ways in which individuals that don’t identify as latinx use the content to engage in stereotyping the latinx population. We can see some harm in this.

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Entry five: Latinx Pop Culture (Ch. 11-13)

After reading chapters eleven through thirteen of The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Popular Culture the things that I pulled out from this read or that were interesting to me were the ways in which the author describes the ways in which creators of expression tie their art to our ancestral history. In many ways it shows what latinx have been through, traditions, and beauty in the culture. The author defines and gives the significance of performing mestizaje to show how individuals are bicultural and hold hybrid notions of self. This chapter talks about many of the ways in which colonizers have banned indigenous expression to get rid of indigenous practices. While also mentioning the exclusion of latinx and other people of color within big expressive platforms such as broadway. Giving In the Heights to be a successful play as it presented the issues of immigration and accessibility to move towards high socioeconomic status. When reflecting on this chapter and the play In the Heights, it raised the idea of the American Dream. As many latinx seek to achieve, it doesn’t take into account all the limitations and obstacles that are in their way in order to actually achieve. Another art style that is talked about in chapter thirteen is spoken word. A form of art that has definitely blown up in our society because of the emotions and passions that are expressed while also sharing some pain and generations of suffering that are carried. I specifically enjoyed this chapter because of its unique ways of introducing creative ways of expression such as spoken word and plays. Spoken word is something that I enjoy listening to especially from latinx because it is typically relatable and shares ancestral suffering and passions in individuality.

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Entry four: Latinx Pop Culture (Ch. 8-9)

After reading chapters eight and nine of The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Popular Culture the things that I pulled out from this read or that were interesting to me were the ways in which the author discusses the Latinx comic book industry. It discusses the ways in which it started, what it has grown to be, and possibly what it will look like in the future. This industry is mainly made up of U.S. writers, characters, and etc. Which has affected the artists of latinx comics because all they knew growing up was the superhero genre that was not made up of people that looked like them or their lifestyle and background. This industry when including latinx or latinx americans were presented as villains, thieves, latinx lovers, and etc. In the comics it presented what was convenient for the story telling. If reflected in the stereotypes that are placed on the latinx community; positive or negative. A platform that was used for latinx artists to show their work was “comix” that was for all races and ethnicities. These authors creating comics were constantly talking about the lack and importance of inclusion in this space. There is also a lack of people of color in the sci-fi genre. In which latinx tokenism and stereotypical roles are present but are being addressed to oppose it. Sci-fi has become a platform to go against racism and discrimination that invalidates people of color in the future, just like our history shows it has down in past as well. I found this chapter specifically interesting because I know nothing about the comic book world and honestly didn’t know that there was any representation of latinx in this industry. Although plenty of work still needs to be made to change this industry to be more inclusive, it still does not stop latinx from forcing their foot in the door.

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Entry three: Latinx Pop Culture (Ch. 5-7)

After reading chapters five through seven of The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Popular Culture the things that I pulled out from this read or that were interesting to me were the ways in which the author brings up the movie, The Book of Life. The way the book takes apart the movie and makes you understand it from a different perspective was what caught my attention. The movie was one of the very few films that I saw as a kid that had so many Mexican cultural references. As it drew awareness to various topics, like life and death, the expectations that are held by our families being latinx, immigration, love, and so forth. Chapter five also shares how latinidad in animated media oftentimes puts latinx people from different national origins and cultures in a collective. Many of these platforms have challenged what it means to be latinx in America. An example that was offered is the MiTú website in which provided content for the latinx community both in spanish and english, whether it was entertainment or news it recognized the latinx population as their audience. Digital media has been a huge platform in which individuals are able to express themselves, latinx for example have made an impact in allowing to show identities. It has a special expression of dress, style, and culture which is appealing and directed to the latinx audience. Chapter seven mentions how there is still a lack of latinx representation in video games. The importance of the presence of latinx in video games is needed because it is one of the most influential forms of entertainment impacting our youth and others. I found these chapters interesting and relatable in the sense that these platforms impact our youth at such a high rate. Therefore they are the platforms that we need to make an impact on to have latinx representation because our youth are our future.

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Entry two: Latinx Pop Culture (Ch. 2-4)

After reading chapters two through four of The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Popular Culture the things that I pulled out from this read or that were interesting to me were the ways in which the author talks highly about the Raices de Sangre and how it raised the standards and set the bar for Latinx films. Raices de Sangre shares the history of labor migration and shares the struggle of workers across borders. Many films show the struggle of workers especially along the borders as they may be affected the most by American factors built in Mexico to export workers. Such as the film Maquilapolis in which it displayed the factory workers and their worker rights. Chapter three talks about the most influential T.V show that there is, Dora the Explorer. This chapter also talks about how many latinx T.V. crew members like actors, directors, and production crew members started off in children media because it was not regarded for high production value. This provided a space for people of color and women to hold roles in T.V. work. Chapter four mentions the ways in which T.V. oftentimes there are versions of latinidad replaced by whitewashed latinxness versions and the complexity that this topic holds. I see this a lot in many T.V. shows where latinidad is misrepresented. This can be super frustrating for the latinx viewers while others may find it amusing in some sense. Although latinx have faced these struggles, that are jumping over obstacles and creating change to have our presence being in these spaces, in which I am proud for.

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Entry One: Latinx Pop Culture (Intro & Ch. 1)

After reading the introduction and chapter one of The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Popular Culture the things that I pulled out from this read or that were interesting to me were the ways in which latinoness presents itself in our society. The author expresses how latinx shows up in today’s pop culture through various forms of media, art, food, and etc. Also the impact that the latnx population has on influencing the way people in the US engage in the world through taste, smell, emotions, and thoughts. This section talks about the ways in which the latinx population is influencing industries. This section talks about the ways in which latinx has been present in pop culture and how that has shaped history and location. This has also influenced the worldviews and prejudices of the latinx population. As the presence of latinx culture shows up and grows in the world the more impact we see that it has on various topics. Chapter one specifies the ways in which latinx shows in television through storytelling and other creative expressions. There is a lack of representation of latinx writers and producers in the T.V. industry. There is progress of getting this up but still needs work. Within the 2000s there has been a shift in the number and impact of latinx representation in the T.V. industry. The characters of latinx are more advanced and the inclusion of the perspectives of these characters and points of view are more represented. I found that the representation and inclusion of latinx has risen. It makes me proud and happy that our voices are  being heard and change is being made. It also makes me recognize that there are still ways to go. When reading this section this made me think of how in other ethnic studies courses we’ve talked about the representation of people of color in the education system and how important it is. It is important to have others that look like you in these spaces so that you believe that you belong and without that representation it is a lot harder. I can only imagine how these characters or individuals feel in this industry. It shows their resilience and determination to change the industry which is appreciated for generations to come.