The selected scene from El Mariachi, which contains an example of oppositional genre variations, is the one when the main character enters the bar searching for a job. In this piece, he is presented as a strong person in contrast to other people, including the owner of the place. However, the musician’s strength is not in visible masculinity as it is typically suggested by the genre but in his artistic abilities.
In this part of the film, the mariachi challenges genre conventions, according to which he is supposed to possess significant physical skills. However, he does not correlate with a hero of this kind as his qualities which distinguish the man from others, are displayed as “culture and morality” (Berg, 2002, p. 235). This subversion is performed by emphasizing the mentioned characteristics in the dialogues when this character says that his songs would give “more style or class to the place” (“El Mariachi,” 1992). His actions correspond to the perceptions of a creative person who strives to express himself with the help of music and avoids fighting. As a viewer, I find this technique effective as it not only accurately depicts the difference between the people involved in the story but also refers to the inner world of the characters.
In conclusion, the described scene from El Mariachi clearly engages in oppositional genre variations as it does not follow the stereotypes of a physically strong hero. This type of protagonist is substituted by a shy musician, whose virtue is morality. Challenging this aspect seems critical for the film as it allows the viewers to decide what qualities they value most. As a result, the adopted method is suitable for addressing this goal.
Works Cited
Berg, Charles Ramírez. Latino Images in Film: Stereotypes, Subversion, and Resistance. University of Texas Press, 2002.
El Mariachi. Directed by Robert Rodriguez, performance by Carlos Gallardo, Columbia Pictures, Los Hooligans Productions, 1992.