Preface
The culture of any group of people is best of all reflected in its literature that may give both truthful and biased representations of these people. Concrete examples are drawn from the Los Angeles literature support this idea. There are a number of books that reflect Los Angeles culture, but it is the reader’s right to decide whether or not such reflections are stereotyped.
Presenting Los Angeles culture in literature is a great challenge due to the complexity of this culture. The formation of the contemporary Los Angeles culture fell to the period of Great Depression when not only Los Angeles, but a number of other American cities (and world cities as well), experienced a severe economic decline that plunged their citizens into despair and made them use every single opportunity to earn money for living. Some cities were more successful in fighting the Depression while others less.
As far as Los Angeles is concerned, Great Depression seemed to have influenced not only the economic welfare of the citizens but their culture as well. Great Depression has significantly affected Los Angeles culture and resulted in the birth of the American dream that a number of people in the world started pursuing; since then, Los Angeles culture started to be associated with the American dream, or striving for easy money that would allow living in idleness, money obtained for jobs that do not demand special efforts or earned in a dishonest way, money that is a guide to a beautiful life full of beautiful people with perfect bodies and faces, people who are the members of another, better, a world of movies, fame, wealth, drunkenness, and, again, idleness. These themes are common for the majority of books about the Los Angeles culture.
Commentaries on Quotations
- “Monty was an amateur cynic, and cynics are too cynical to dream. He had been born to a way of life that included taste, manners, and a jaunty aloofness from money beneath as though it were a gentleman’s notice.” (Cain 1989, 168)
This quote presents people’s attitudes towards non-supporters of Los Angeles culture. They are different from the majority of the population that is described in literature related to Los Angeles culture. As it will be mentioned in other quotations, this culture is represented by people looking for easy money and idleness in their lives. Monty is an exception. This person is referred to as a ‘cynic’ for he is not like everybody else. He does not adore money and luxury and he relies on his own taste rather than on something imposed on him by popular culture. The author’s presenting this character in this way shows that it was rarely that literature related to Los Angeles culture abounded with non-stereotypic representations of Los Angeles citizens. - Easy money, but so what? First here, he was stupid; used to hang with a mixed gang, but it was having its toll on his carnal. Saw his homies die at gunpoint… (Yamashita 1997, 80)
Similar to Rodriguez’s The Republic of East LA discussed later, this quote relates to the concept of easy money. However, here this money is even not earned but simply taken away from someone else. This quotation shows that some Los Angeles people are not only striving for easy money but believe that it is normal to have money that one has not earned with hard labor. Of course, such representation may be stereotyped to some extent; but, taking into account the fact that it is met more than in one book related to life in Los Angeles, something may be true about the ideas that such stereotypes suggest. According to the idea presented by this quotation, a person who does not have special talents is free to get money in a way he/she likes, even if it is being a gang member. - I won’t do any work that demands commitment or an emotional investment. Like I won’t clean the windows of downtown highrises or dig ditches … or kill rats in sewage tunnels, or sit in an office cell surrounded by half walls, bulletin boards, and phones. (Rodriguez 2002, 2).
Looking at this quotation evokes a feeling of resentment at first. It is associated with a lazy person who wishes to sit on the couch, watch TV, and get money for this. However, when one finds out that this book refers to Los Angeles literature, the perception of the character changes. It is clear that the character is trying to use the opportunity of doing nothing difficult and get money for this (just like in case with Yamashita’s and Murray’s characters), an opportunity that only a loser would not use in a city full of such opportunities. The character (who is a limo driver, by the way) is a true representative of the Los Angeles culture described in the book that has a real right to belong to Los Angeles literature. - They’d scoot around the streets picking pockets and stealing small things at first […] My big brother … had a taste for the bad. I’d see him pick off a pair of sparkle-stone earrings from a store and he wouldn’t even blink while he slipped them in his pocket. (Murray 1997, 4)
This quotation, just like three of the abovementioned, reflects Los Angeles people’s striving for easy money. In this case, this is involvement with the gang, the easiest way of obtaining money – one does not have to work for it is easier to take away money from somebody who has earned it. Just like Rodriguez’s character, the characters of this book (those belonging to gangs) use their opportunities in Los Angeles; they are unable to earn money in an honest way, as well as they are not good enough to be movie stars and earn them for their beauty. So, they just take it away from those who happened to be luckier in this city. - “… a tacky sleepy slowpoke Los Angeles of the thirties, still convalescent from the depression, with no money to share for fresh coats of paint. And how charming it is! … Mexicans live here, so there are lots of flowers. Negroes live here, so it is cheerful” (Isherwood 41).
Christopher Isherwood wanted to show that the great depression is over and the city of Los Angeles begins to change for better. The hope for future is seen through the words. Still, only two words “tacky” and “depression” make it clear that the life in the city is rather stressing and unhappy. The inability to buy the clothes and happy Mexicans and Negroes present the contrast and the difference in culture. The Great Depression and American Dream influenced people greatly and showed people’s desires. Those who could not even dream of the better thing enjoyed and those who strove for easy money were still in depressed. The city seemed gloomy and poke for them. - “It seems fitting that, of all the cities I could have chosen to live in when I moved from the city where I grew up, I found myself in Los Angeles. This place is the most accurate external portrait of my internal existence. It is a place where everything is subject to change, where even the land is not stable. It is a city of illusions; what you see is not necessarily what is. People come to Los Angeles in search of their future, in spite of their past. Identities and images are created, killed, or altered here on a daily basis” (O’Hearn 109).
The quote is the greatest explanation for the situation that was observed while the Great Depression and American Dream pursue. People were looking for easy life, they wanted to do nothing and get money for this. When they believed that the purpose is reached, it appeared to be an illusion: all the dreams and hopes were ruined and nothing left but fall into depression with the greater power. Coming to Los Angeles, people wanted the changes; still, the changes they strove for were unrealizable. - “The world was a race to Sammy. He was running against time. Sometimes I used to sit at the bar…and say, ‘Al, I don’t give a goddam if you never move your ass off this seat again. If you never write another line. I default. Al Manheim does not choose to run.’ And then it would start running through my head: What makes Sammy run?” (Schulberg 5).
A huge desire and longing for success is the main idea of the quote. While the previous expressions dwelled upon those who did nothing for easy money, this quote describes, Sammy, a person who also strove for American Dream, still, he run somewhere and tried to do at least something for it, opposite to Al Manheim, who just sit in bar and drowned his sorrows for unfulfilled wishes in wine. The whole Los Angeles was in the same condition; they drank and did nothing while their life went by. - “It is hard to laugh at the need for beauty and romance, no matter how tasteless, even horrible, the results of that are. But it is easy to sigh. Few things are sadder than the truly monstrous” (West 61).
The quote is directly related to the culture in the area in the time when the whole nation immersed in the deep sorrow for unfulfilled wishes. The culture is perpetual, but the life is changeable. Here is the example of the change. The beauty of the art and culture is remembered, while it is hard to perceive it through the perspective of ruined lives. The depression and ruined illusions remained from American dream; the life became tasteless and uninteresting. Is not it enough? Why do people fail to notice the aimlessness of their life and do not try to change something? The only they can do, is… to sigh.
Conclusion
A number of sources that have been analyzed in the course of this project have shown that different literary works can be united by one common idea. In case with Los Angeles literature and movies analyzed, this idea was that Los Angeles culture consists in pursuing the American dream, a desire to enrich oneself without having to work hard. The greatest significance of this little research for me personally lies in its confirming my ideas about the representation of Los Angeles culture in literature. Just like in case with most of the cultures, this representation is partially stereotypic, which also confirms some of my other assumptions. Nevertheless, I should admit that certain truth still exists in the way Los Angeles culture is represented in literature.
Review Evaluation
Cain, James. Mildred Pierce……A
Though the story is original in terms of presenting someone who does not follow the others in their desire to become rich and famous, it seems to be too trivial and looks like a movie story when the streets are full of gangs, while only one guy is good (simply an embodiment of strong will and not finance-oriented person). However, the main character of the story, Monty, can be considered the only citizen of the City of angels who does not recognize the common desires and inclinations of the most part of citizens. Moreover, this protagonist helps to realize that every rule has its exceptions even in literature.
Mosley, Walter. Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned……..…..A
This book is marvelous! It is so realistic that the characters seem to be copied out of real people living in the neighborhood. Socrates Fortlow is presented as the wise man that has a life-long experience and is entitled to share his experience. I would say that he resembles a preacher who has a dark past, though nobody knows about some mistakes from his past. This book can be considered a guide into the history of Los Angeles accompanied by appropriate commentaries of one of its residents.
O’Hearn, Claudine. Half and Half……….…B
Though the book is written in a clear understandable manner, it seems that the author did not want to present some real episodes from the everyday life of ordinary people. It appears like a too general description of lazy people as the citizens of Los Angeles are presented in the book and explanation of their dreams and the way they were ruined. To my mind, the story is depressive, unlike the common image of the City of Angels. It is clear that some events and cities can be not so fantastic and carefree as people draw them; whereas the reality makes everything obvious. It is necessary to be able to dream in a severe world.
Rodriguez, Luis. The Republic of East L.A………………A
As it was previously claimed, the book presents the real history of the city which has a disputable reputation. When people want to do nothing and get big money, they are usually described as coming to LA, though the destiny does not always make them wives of rich businessmen or successful money-makers. The book presents the real though a bit trivial image of Los Angeles existing in the United States and in the world in general. However, it is also full of common ideas that those people who are lazy and unable to take care of themselves become residents of LA and present the worst features of modern people.
Schulberg, Budd. What Makes Sammy Run?……………A
The book is interesting and really thought-provoking, though the events take place in the same period of time as in the books mentioned above. The only difference here appears when we see the main character full of energy and movement. You would say that the same character was described by Cain, but there was no strong opposition. Besides, I like the allegory of people drinking because of their failures and the city full of drunkards in the days of Depression when all desperately needed some encouragement and a gulp of fresh air. Here is when the opposition is obvious to the extent that the readers want to help to solve the problems.
Smith, Anna Deavere. Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992……………..B
The overall idea of the book is great as it represents some research conducted to find the real American character that would be an embodiment of all hopes, dreams, and intentions. Though the idea is good, the implementation of it is not as marvelous as it could be. The first thing I did not like were the interviews, to be more exact, the manner of their presentation as it is difficult to read when the text is full of different sounds that were pronounced to fill in the gaps. It looks like reading the rap text when it is necessary to hear it pronounced by somebody else.
West, Nathanael. The Day of the Locust…………….B
Again too depressive. I wonder why the period of depression in the country is described so depressively in literature! The most appropriate would be to write about people that had found strength and fought for some great purpose, whereas most characters are concerned with sighing and drinking. This is another book telling people about losers that could not find their way in the days of Depression. Sighing is the easiest when people have nothing left to dream of and to strive for. Though the description is rather realistic, the book is still too general and full of negative emotions.
Yamashita, Karen. Tropic of Orange…………..A
The book describes the stereotyped vision of the residents of Los Angeles. Though it is aimed at creating the negative image of people living in that area, it provokes some deeper thoughts than expected after reading the first pages. The main thing that should be understood from this particular book is the concept of criminal life successfully incorporated into the society where each and every human being dreams about easy money without thinking about consequences. The cultural aspects of Los Angeles’ residents become obvious when certain criminal actions are raised from the author’s imagination.
Isherwood, Christopher. A Single Man………………..A
Finally, we talk about something that is less related to the economic depression experienced by American citizens. The book tells about the end of the depression which brought changes. The cultural aspects are clear from this story as never before. The ethnic minorities described in contrast to white snobbish people, though all of them wanted to live a better life which, however, was achieved via different means. Some people were happy with something less that was enough for their full-fledged life, whereas others could not think about anything than easy money and the ways to get money without doing at least something in order to live better.
Murray, Yxta Maya. Locas………………A
The main thing that should be mentioned is that the stories presented in the book seem to be as real as if they were told by its characters. The ideas are clear and easy to understand because the author does not just tell what people wanted and what they had managed to achieve; Murray introduces the problem of gangs that existed along with the depression and lack of money and desire to earn that money with hard work. As gangs are described without any exaggeration and fantasy, it seems obvious that the Los Angeles culture is full of gangs and other formal groups and subcultures.
And the Winner Is…
As you could have guessed, the book that I liked the most is the Locas by Yxta Maya Murray. The author realistically describes the situation in the streets, whereas not all aspects of the life in gang can be attributed purely to the life in Los Angeles. This book seems to be the most appropriate to build bridges with other cultures because conflicts in the streets can be considered a common thing in countries that experience some economic problems. It made me think about street life in ordinary cities that have a less disputable reputation than LA does.
Review Evaluation of the Films
“Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned”
The main idea of the film is to show that people should always continue living no matter what may happen. On the example of ex prisoner, the film creators managed to show that he was able to overcome his fears and lack of self-confidence and remain stable in the situations which others could not outlive (Always Outnumbered). It is hard, still it is possible and people should strive for it. The film is rather impressive and the best out of the others. People should follow Socrates’ example……. 4 stars
“Sullivan’s Travels”
It is the film about the film creation. The audience is able to see the situation in the country in the light of the depression via the Sully’s mission to consider the suffering of people in the world. The film presents the real life of Americans with poverty and suffering they are to endure (Sullivan’s Travels). The situation in the film was so realistic that it was impossible to doubt it. ….. 3 stars
“Singin’ in the Rain”
The main idea of the film is to show people the history of the Hollywood cinematography development. The focus is the shift from silent movies to those with sound (Singin’ in the Rain). The film does not impress greatly. Being the comedy, it just describes the event. There is not desire to watch it one more time. …….1 star.
“Mildred Pierce”
The specific structure of the description in the film charms. The narration comes from the third person in the chronological order with specific voice-over narration, Mildred’s voice, who expresses her personal; pinion of the situation that had happened (Mildred Pierce). The arena for action is the police office where Mildred testifies upon the murder of her husband. …………. 2 stars
“What’s Cooking?”
The comedy-drama is rather interesting. It is possible to imagine the situation when in time of Great Depression people were going for American Dream for big cities. The mixture of ethically diverse families created a number of problems (What’s Cooking?). The creators of the film desired to show what could happen if to look on the situation with humor. It is easier to consider serious things via humorous remarks, still the main idea is understood…………. 3 stars
“Quinceanera”
The main idea of the film is to show the problems that exist in Los Angeles. The life of simple people with the problems that could occur with each one are supported with the problem of bilingual society that is able to shift from one language to the other due to the existing situation (Quinceanera). The plot is rather interesting and fascinating. ……………………2 stars
References
Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned, Dir. Michael Apted. Perf. Laurence Fishburne. Palomar Pictures, 1998. Film.
Cain, James. Mildred Pierce. New York: Vintage Books, 1989. Print.
Isherwood, Christopher. A single man. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2001. Print.
Mildred Pierce. Dir. Michael Curtiz. Perf. Joan Crawford, Ann Blyth, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden. Warner Brothers, 1945. Film.
Mosley, Walter. Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned. New York: Washington Square Press, 1998. Print.
Murray, Yxta M. Locas: A Novel. New York: Grove Press, 1997. Print.
O’Hearn, Claudine C. Half and half: writers on growing up biracial and bicultural. New York: Pantheon Books, 1998. Print.
Quinceanera. Dir. Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland. Perf. Emily Rios, Jesse Garcia, David W. Ross. Sony Pictures Classics, 2006. Film.
Rodriguez, Luis. The Republic of East LA: Stories. New York: HarperCollins, 2002. Print.
Schulberg, Budd. What Makes Sammy Run? New York: Vintage, 1993. Print.
Singin’ in the Rain. Dir. Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly. Perf. Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Jean Hagen. Freed Unit, 1952. Film.
Sullivan’s Travels. Dir. Preston Sturges. Perf. Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake, Robert Warwick, William Demarest. Paramount Studios, 1941. Film.
West, Nathanael. Miss Lonelyhearts & the Day of the Locust. Paradise: Paw Prints, 2008. Print.
What’s Cooking? Dir. Gurinder Chadha. Perf. Joan Chen, Julianna Margulies, Mercedes Ruehl, Kyra Sedgwick. Lions Gate Films, 2000. Film.
Yamashita, Karen T. Tropic of Orange: A Novel. Minneapolis: Coffee House Press, 1997. Print.