Rodriguez-Hernandez1

Fabiola E Rodriguez-Hernandez

Professor Michael Sanches

August 6, 2020

Research Paper

Latinos Influence in major films

Throughout many years the film industry has always been a major entertainment for

people to see, it is so well seen that throughout years many films have had major impact of

people and communities. We have witness the film industry change throughout years, I would

say in the beginning most major films were solely based around white people, whereas the

people of color didn’t get many roles up until now we see more color people taking big roles.

Along with that we see many films that talk and capture the culture of the color people. Some

films I will say do not capture the culture correctly, rather they seem more stereotypical

instead. Take the Latino community, not until recently I would say not many films have hit the

American Hollywood industry capturing the Latino community. Though we see more films for

this community, some capturing the real impact and diversity the film has with the Latino

community, other films seem more stereotypical.

Two major films I personally believe they really had an impact with America, explaining

and expressing the Latino community culture would be “Selena” and “Coco”. I picked these two

films because they seemed to really impact the community along with showing America what

culture the Latino community has. In the film “Selena” the film revolves around a young
 Rodriguez-Hernandez2

Mexican American teen who loves to sing and has a dream to become a singer. Throughout the

film we get to see an impactful line said by her father saying “we must be more Mexican than

the Mexicans, and more American than the Americans, both at the same time! Its exhausting”

that line itself is something many Chicanos in America felt a connection, knowing that the

American and Mexicans should know the struggle a Chicano goes through not being good

enough for either one, rather having to pleased both sides. Along with that in the film we see

the unity the family has staying in a band together and supporting each other which is very

typical in many Latino family, having family means a lot to us. But the major impact this film had

in America with everyone was that Selena was one of the first recognized female pop artist to

be Latina, which is huge for the Latino community. Having some as talented and beautiful as

selena was something we were all proud to have, knowing the Latinos were finally being

recognized in the music industry. Knowing that if selena as a Latina could make it gave the rest

of the Latino an opportunity. This also gave society the opportunity to learn about the Latino

culture, especially since her death was well affected by everyone this was something that left a

mark in the American society.

The other film that had a major impact on the American film industry would be the

Disney movie “coco”. This film is a major one especially since it is a kid’s film, the kids that have

watched this movie now have a better idea of a tradition that many Latino respect and do. The

film revolves around the idea family accepting one and other, along the idea of dia de los

Muertos. Which is a popular tradition where the Latinos pay respect to their past relative with a

peace offering, many people were not or had little to knowledge what this tradition was before
 Rodriguez-Hernandez3

the film. But now thanks to “Coco” many people have witness the impact of a true traditional

Latino holiday/celebration. Since it is a kid’s film, all these kids from America are now growing

up with a bit more knowledge of the Latino community rather than referring to stereotypical

things of Hispanics. Along with that the up coming generation get to learn about the

importance the Latino community has family, music, and tradition. They get to see all these

things from a different point of view, learn more of the beautiful culture of Latinos.

Though not all Latino films do a good job representing the community or culture, rather

revolve more in the stereotypical mindset that America has with Latinos. Stereotypically in

many films we see the Latinos in the back of the kitchen working, or being maids, or simply

having poor English, even seen as exotic people. These films are mostly seen with major film

which does leave an impact in society, in increasing the stereotypical people have with Latinos.

Two major films that do poorly in representing the Latino community would be “ How to be a

Latin lover” and “modern family” these two films revolve more around stereotypical mindset

put on Latinos rather than the culture and people itself. In the film “how to be a Latin lover” we

see the stereotypical idea where the man is so “exotic” that the white rich old lady decided to

keep him around as her lover. Making the whole film revolve around Eugenio Debrez trying to

use his Latino exoticness to have the luxuries he desires. Hoping from one rich lady to another,

simply by using his exoticness, along with that in the film its very stereotypical to think of

Latinas as being single mother in most film, to rather give the film more emotion.

The stereotypical thing seen in modern family is in my opinion the worst. In the

television program “Modern Family” you see one of the main character Sophia, which uses the
 Rodriguez-Hernandez4

worst stereotypical in Latin women. In this film we see Sophia being a loud Latina with a thick

accent making it seem that all Latinas are like her, her attitude portrayed in the film leaves a

bad impact of Latinas in society. Making it seem that Latinas are loud with attituded and a thick

accent. Along with that we have the other two stereotypical where every Latina is supposed to

look like her curvy and full. Many people believe the beauty of the Latinas as exotic humans,

curvy and beautiful which isn’t a bad stereotypical because who wouldn’t want to be known as

beautiful, but it leaves that image that every Latina should look like her, which isn’t true

everyone looks different, shape and color. And the other stereotypical thing is since in the film

she is married to an older rich man, many have the idea that Latinas are gold diggers, especially

since she does in the film have a child more of a reason for people to think of Latinas as being

gold diggers.

Throughout it all there are many films being brought to the major films having an impact

in the Latino community, some good and some bad. I do feel though as with times, the Latino

community will get to see more Latinos being in major films. Portraying how the Latinos truly

live in society and what challenges we must face as a community. Hopefully in the future

people could get the beautiful side of the Latino culture, us Latinos are more than the

stereotypes thrown at us.

 Rodriguez-Hernandez5

Citation

Molina, A., & Unkrich, L. (Directors). (2017). Coco [Motion picture]. Retrieved from Walt

Disney motion pictures

Nava, G. (Director). (1997). Selena - trailer [Motion picture]. Q-productions.

Ken Marino. (Director). (2017) How to be a Latin lover [Motion picture]. 3Pas Studios

Christopher Lloyd, & Steven Levitan. (Writers). (2009-2020). Modern Family. ABC