Latino Machismo in Film

1
Latino Machismo in Film

• Courtney Lee
• AJ Hershman

2
Desperado

• Fight scene
• Men show their manliness and loyalty through
  physical brutality and strength.
• Characteristics of fighting style
• More similar to Julio Cesar Chavez than Oscar de
  La Hoya.

3
Mi Familia

• Jimmy, youngest son, reforms anger into love for
  his family
• Anger is internalized
• Like Luis Rodriguez, stages of violence, prison,
  etc.
• Becomes positive by focusing on his son, rather
  than his anger.
• Always expressed his feelings through physical
  sense.

4
Desperado

• El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas)
• Oversexed, mysterious, and angry stereotypical
  Latino macho.
• Externalizes his anger through vengeful killing.
• Simultaneously a fighter and lover. He does not
  distinguish between the two unlike Jimmy in Mi
  Familia.
• However, he is also tender and sensitive, teaches
  little boy how to play the guitar. Not the
  stereotypical macho man.

5
Washington Heights

• Non-violent vs. violent expressions of emotion
• Carlos, an artist, who uses drawing to express
  his emotions unlike Jimmy and El Mariachi.
• Father-son relationship is weak similar to Luis
  Rodriguezs relationship to his father.
• Constantly seeks El Viejo or Eddies (Carlos
  father) approval and love.

6
Mi Familia

• Jose, Father of children in Mi Familia.
• Contradicts typical stereotypes of Latino
  Machismo.
• Loving, does not drink, non-violent, hard working
• Respects his wife, does everything for family
• Similar to Martin Espada. Positive Male Role
  Model.

7
The Birdcage

• Agadorra- homosexual Guatemalan Houseman.
• Negative Aspects-
• -Only Latino, Shown as submissive house maid
  to Anglo men.
• -Is oversexed, uneducated proud of his exotic
  heat
• -Supports negative stereotypes about Latinos
  in similar to Anne Taylor Fleming.
• Positive Aspects-
• -Demonstrates supportive, positive male figure
  in Vals life. Shows alternative to traditional
  Macho male role.

8
Conclusion

• There are many different types of machismo
• Many contradict typical stereotypes
• Project may have been more effective in
  demonstrating stereotypes in movies like The
  Birdcage, and not films that are not
  predominantly Latino.
• Responses to anger shown in these movies, are
  maybe not ethnically specific. Men from other
  races may act out in response to traumatic
  experiences in similar ways.