11/10/13

Welcome to Week 12 J November something… Dr. Gilbert Estrada

Keep These Questions in Mind as you go through this presentation

— Is the following Comedy “Latino “? Why or why not?

— Why was it funny or not? Was it racist and/or did it perpetuate certain Latino stereotypes? GIVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES FROM THE VIDEOS IN THIS PRESENTATION.

— Was it accurate?

— Why is the Latino Comedy you’ve seen important?

— What are the positive and negative attributes given to Latinos in the following comedy skits?

Student Learning Objectives for Today You should know…

1. Chicano y Latino Comedy - During presentation: ask yourself. - Who has the power? - Who is racializing who? - Is it accurate or is it still racist? - What are the comedians trying to teach you? - What are the positive and/or negative stereotypes - Why is it funny?

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Cheech & Chong Comedy duo

Richard “Cheech” Marin Tommy Chong

Comedy is based on… 1. Counter Culture

2. Drug Culture

3. Ethnic Elements

Richard “Cheech” Marin

Cheech Marin

— Richard “Cheech” Martin

— Born in July, 1946 in Los Angeles

— Most famous as “Cheech” in comedy duo of “Cheech & Chong.”

— 3rd Generation Mexican- American

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Cheech Marin

— Also actor, Director, Writer, musician, and art collector

— T.V., Cinema, comedy albums originally released on vinyl and cassette.

Los Cochinos

1973

1st comedy album

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Cheech & Chong

— 9 comedy albums from 1972 – 1985

— Nominated for 4 Grammy

— won Grammy with “Los Cochinos,” 1973

Also made many Movies.

1978

This is only a few of their Movies.

1978 1980 1981

1983 1982 1983

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Disclaimer…

Your Professors and Long Beach City College do not necessarily agree with the following comedy…..

Relax….. it’s comedy…..

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In Youtube Search: “CHEECH AND CHONG- MEXICAN AMERICANS *HQ*”

— Watch the Video — http:// www.youtube.com/ watch? v=LLqqZmNFa_A — Is it racist? Is it “Latino?” — Who has the Power? — Is it true? — Why is it funny?

For the Previous clip

— What elements of the skit were “Latino” and/or “Mexican?”

— Was it racist? Why or why not?

— Was it funny? Why or why not?

— What were the stereotypes?

— Previous students have focused on: Talking Spanish, marrying outside of your face, nicknames, waking up early.

???????????????????????????

—How are you suppose to interpret the comedy we examine?

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When examining race and/or ethnicity, ask yourselves… Who has the power? How are Latinos racialized? What are the subject matters?

In Youtube Search: “How to Pimp Out your VAN in Under a Minute!”

— Watch the Video — http:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=XtSr-GLFz8s — Is it racist? Is it Latino? — Who has the Power? — Is it true? — Why is it funny?

In Youtube Search: “Cheech & Chong up in smoke”

— Watch the Video — http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ljfdg3mPcvY

— If the link doesn’t work, just look for any Cheech & Chong Up in Smoke clip.

— Is it racist? Is it “Latino?” — Who has the Power?

— Is it true?

— Why is it funny?

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Why is this important?

What other Chicanos/ Latinos are found on mainstream T.V. / media, especially in the 1970s?

Answer

Almost none.

In fact, Cheech might be considered the first “Mexican- American” movie star that actually portrays/manifests some Mexican American Elements.

That is, there were only a few Mexican-American actors (esp. up to the 1980s), and most American audiences didn’t know they were Mexican-American.

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Slow Poke Rodriguez

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The Simpsons

RE: Previous Slide

— We’ve already talked about this before, but with only a few “Latinos” in the mainstream media (TV/Film), the way Latinos are portrayed becomes very important.

— i.e. that’s Racilization

— If they are portrayed negatively, that helps define how Latinos are suppose to act.

Anthony Quinn. Huge movie star, but not well known he was Mexican.

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Freddie Prinze

“Chico & The Man.”

1974-1978

Set in ELA Mechanic shop

Freddie Prinze

— ½ Puerto Rican — ½ German — Born in New York, 1954 — Comedian / Actor

— Born…Frederick Karl Pruetzel

“Chico & The Man,”

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In Youtube, Search: “Chico and the Man - Chico's Sermon”

— Watch the Video — http:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=6mhOG- UqX4g — Is it racist? — Who has the Power? — Why does he use that language? — Why is it funny?

— This show is essentially the same show as “Chico and the Man,” but the African- American version.

Kathy Cochran, Wife

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Fredie Prinze, 1954-1977. Suicide at 22 years old.

What other images of

Chicanos / Latinos were

on T.V?

Desiderio Arnaz

Beteter known as “Desi”

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Desi Arnaz

— Born, March 2, 1917 — From Santiago, Cuba moved to in 1933 — Actor/ Musician / Comedian — 1939 – Broadway musicial Too Many Girls

Desi Arnaz

— 1933 – met Lucile Ball, got married

— Pitched idea for “I Love Lucy,” show, but CBS believed America did not want to see Latino Husband and Caucasian Wife…

— 1951 – Co-Started in hit T.V. Show…. “I Love Lucy,” on CBS…

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Desi Arnaz y Lucile Ball

In Youtube, Search: “Bedtime Stories with Ricky Ricardo”

— Watch the Video — http:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=_9ivqXzmrZ0 — Is it racist? Is it Latino? — Who has the Power? — If he’s only telling a story, why is it funny? — Does the culture become a sideshow.

— Are these positive or negative portrayals of Latinos? — Why or Why not? — What are benefits from having Desi Arnaz on T.V?

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Back to Cheech… Point: He also acts in many other roles.

Tin Cup (1996)

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Race is Socially Constructed

— The way society assigns racial characters to certain races

“Will Mow Lawn for Weed + Beer” 2012 L

Baylor University Sorority racialization of ?????? (2012)

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Canyon High School: “Senores and Senoritas”

3 Previous Slides

— Are they racist?

— The people dressed up as “Mexicans” or “Latinos” but that is the most prominent image they know.

— i.e. in their minds, Mexicans and Latinos have been racialized as sombrero wearing, large moustache having, green card people.

— Is that accurate?

Cheech is type-casted as the Lowrider. Is this racist?

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— Of all the characters in the movie “Cars,” why was Cheech cast as the Low-rider?

He also writes children’ books And actually has one of the most important collections of Chicano art in the entire world.

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Cheech and the Spooky Ghost Bus

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