The documentary evaluates the portrayal of Latinos in US media. Latinos face an ethnic barrier that result in them being grossly underrepresented in movies and other forms of media. For instance, in the movie Scarface, white actors were hired to play Latino characters. In films where Latino and Hispanic people are featured, they are portrayed with certain offensive stereotypes. For example, they are shown to be drug dealers or violent gang members. This negative misrepresentation in the media perpetuates Latino stereotypes in the real world.
The main point of the video is that Latinos are negatively portrayed in US media. Men are shown to be violent, hotheaded, and often engaging in illegal activities. On the other hand, women are over-sexualized and in some cases, portrayed as prostitutes. Examples include in films and shows such as The Perez Family, Dogma, and Sin City. The effect of this is an increase in hate crimes against Latino and Hispanic people in the US.
The documentary also argues that the US media needs to represent Latinos in a more dignified manner. There are numerous examples of accomplished Latinos who are absent from the limelight. For example, the culture boasts of astronauts, politicians, judges, and sportsmen who do not receive as much media coverage as they should, considering their accomplishments (Latinos Beyond Reel: Challenging a Media Stereotype). Additionally, Latino characters are needed for children from this culture to have heroes who look like them. Overall, increased progressive depiction will have a positive impact on the nation.
I have observed the stereotypical depictions of Latinos, but I had not noticed they were underrepresented in media. Upon taking a closer look, I now see that the film makes valid points. I think that in an attempt at humor, the media does irreparable damage towards the Latino community. I have a friend of Latino heritage, and I have witnessed people making such stereotypical jokes at her expense. She usually brushes them off, but I can tell they make her uncomfortable. I think that even though the film was made almost a decade ago, it remains relevant today.
Question: What positive or dignified representations of Latinos have you seen in the US media?
Work Cited
Latinos Beyond Reel: Challenging a Media Stereotype. Directed by Chyng Sun and Miguel Parker, The Media Education Foundation, 2013.