Introduction
The issue of defining the ethnic identity is complex as it requires consideration of various factors to ensure the appropriate and accurate consideration. The process is complicated with the necessity to apply to a particular terminology that describes belongingness to a certain race of people. This essay will examine signifiers used to denote characters of the film “Machete” as Latinx and provide a complimentary analysis, with respect to related stereotypes and themes, supporting statements with evidence throughout the text.
Examination of Representation of Latinxs and Complimentary Signifiers
To begin with, it is vital to discuss the literal meaning of the term “Latinx” and outline appropriate signifiers that will be utilized further in the essay. “Latinx” is used to refer to Latin American descents without emphasizing the particular gender. It excludes ones from Spain, which shall be referred to as “Hispanic,” but includes, for instance, Portuguese-speaking Brazilians, people from Haiti, and Belize.
There are a variety of stereotypes commonly associated with Latinx that can be used as signifiers to denote individuals of this particular ethnicity. Most of them are from the working class, such as housekeepers, maids, gardeners, and others service industry employees. They are violent criminals or associated with gangs and drug cartels, which is romanticized and exaggerated. Most of them are immigrants, and they or their relatives are at risk of being deported from the US.
They do not have a particular culture that influences their language, believes, and behavior. Latinx are usually hypersexualized, as their men are considered to be seducers, while women are objects of desire. They often utilize more than one language, even among members of the same communities. Finally, they are not interested in higher education, as usually portrayed as poor, lazy, or with limited intellectual abilities.
It is possible to include a variety of moments from the film “Machete” to support the mentioned signifiers with sufficient representations. In the moment when a girl, who came for a conversation with the taco seller, is looking on a Latinx man for a few seconds, with an impression, which can be considered a sexual interest (Letty Ocampo 00:00:02-00:00:10). Moreover, the male character is an apparently violent criminal, which also suits the related signifier.
The other Latinx character, the taco seller itself, the young woman, complies with many outlined stereotypes. She is a service industry employee who can potentially be an illegal immigrant as she was asked to show her document by the police officer (Letty Ocampo 00:00:44-00:00:49). Then, the taco seller is associated with criminals, as it is pointed out that she has a poster of a terrorist on her shop’s wall. It was also hinted that this Latinx woman might be the criminal herself (Letty Ocampo 00:01:22-00:01:30). The police officer can also be associated with Latinx, as the taco seller claims that she deports her sisters and brothers (Letty Ocampo 00:01:00-00:01:05). However, this character does not comply with other signifiers.
Conclusion
Despite the complexity of denoting individuals as Latinx, there are various signifiers, usually stereotypes, which can be utilized for this purpose. There is a specific image of a person with the mentioned belonging, who potentially is a criminal, does not have high education, is a service industry employee, immigrant, and hypersexualized. Three of the characters show in the film comply with at least one signifier, but the taco seller is the one who accumulates most of them. It brings to the conclusion that in the scene, she is the genuine Latinx.
Work Cited
“Michelle Rodriguez – Machete (Taco Scene).” YouTube, uploaded by Letty Ocampo, 2015. Web.