Chicano Cinema By: Maria, Karla, Mariela and Sidney
Chicano Cinema “Chicano cinema inevitably occupies an ambiguous location within the national culture…”
What is Chicano Cinema? ● Chicano cinema is the way Chicanos took part in the theater industry and presented a different perspective of Chicano culture in America. Through chicano cinema, chicanos were able to represent the culture and gain relevance.
Chicano Cinema then.. ● Based on true issues going on ● Tool used for communicating ideas ● Exposure and outlet for Chicano faces and voices ● Characterized ethnic pride
El Teatro Campesino ● Was founded by Luis Valdez in 1965 as an extension of the united farm workers. ● Actors were farm workers ● The plays were inspired by real life event at the time, for example the UFW ● Performed on flat beds of trucks in the middle of the Delano fields. ● After a year of it being founded they began to tour to raise money for the striking farm workers.
El Teatro Campesino Contd. ● In 1967 El Teatro Campesino began to include sketches of Chicano culture beyond the fields like education, the Vietnam War, Indigenous Roots, and racism. ● In 1971 El Teatro Campesino moved to San Juan Bautista CA and adopted original plays like La Pastorela and La virgen Del Tepeyac ● 1976 they toured Europe with the play La Carpa ● By 1980 the original troupe broke up ● El Teatro Campesino is still active in San Juan Bautista CA, & they have yearly pageants.
“I Am Joaquin” (1969) ● By Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzalez ● Known as the first Chicano film in history ● Poem turned into a narrative ● Portrays the early struggles of the Chicano in America fighting for justice and equality
Chicano Cinema Now ● Degrading, insulting, overly racist (Lupe Ontiveros) ● In a sense, hollywood films attempt “to take our minds off”
Chicano Cinema Now ● Open minded ● Accepting ● Changes for the Chicano people
“American Me” (1992)
“American Me” ● represents Chicano during the 1960s when they were overseen socially ● The way they dressed during the period of the “zoot suit” period ● They were discriminated
“Walkout” (2006)
“Walkout” ● They were not allowed to speak Spanish in class ● Chicano was a term was not common or preferred to be used
“A Better Life”/Una mejor vida (2011)
“A Better Life” ● A more modern representation of Chicanos today and their way of living in America ● The way they communicate and are portrayed is different
Modern Family
The Pregnancy Project
Jennifer Lopez
What we think Chicano Cinema is Now. ● Before chicano cinema came into Hollywood it was mainly about real life events chicanos were going through at that time. ● Once Chicanos were introduced in Hollywood their priorities changes. ● Rather than talking about real life struggles they started showing the “importance” of marrying into the higher class in order to get out of lower class and leaving their culture behind and embracing the American lifestyle.
References Noriega, Chon. (2013). “Imagined Borders: Locating Chicano Cinema in America”. Chicano Studies: Surveys and Analysis