Blog 1

Some of my earliest memories that I have are when I would gather around the TV with my mom on the couch, and we would watch novelas starting from 7 pm. I couldn’t stay up past 9 as I had a bedtime, but sometimes I was able to sneak some episodes of the later novela enough to follow the plot along. The 7 pm novela usually wasn’t my favorite, so I would really start watching at 8. I could always count on that one to be good, but the 9 o’clock one was always better which aligns with the prime time system we discussed in class. I sort of unconsciously figured it out because I always complained or brushed off the early novelas saying that they weren't good because they were early on in the day. I deducted that if they were the best they would’ve had the later slot. Now, this isn’t always the case because an earlier one could be better if it fits more with your likes, but for the most part I think it’s a rule of thumb.

My dad, who is born in Maine, raised in south Georgia and is not of latinx origin, would always pass by complaining and questioning why we enjoyed watching the novelas, mimicking the actors crying, yelling, etc.

(pictured: My dad coming home to my mom and me upset over a Friday cliffhanger.)

This never strayed me from watching them though. Seeing the raw emotions on screen, the intensity of them made me feel at home in a way. In class, we’ve come to find that that, which my dad ridiculed of our culture, is something deeply embedded and telling of who we are. The emotions are full-fledged; they’re being depicted unabashedly. Men crying on the screen, heartbroken, remorseful, showing vulnerability is something that is not foreign in Latin American culture. Of course, it is dramatized for the effect on the audience, but also if that is something you grow up watching, I think it definitely builds a foundation and leaves an impact on its audience. That’s not to say that machismo is not prevalent and that emotions are always welcomed, but it is definitely still reflective of the culture.

As someone from a Mexican-American family, it resonated with me when we have talked about how Mexico is closed off from venturing from the norm, from the recycled stories as opposed to countries like Brazil and Turkey who are more accurately narrating today’s issues. Something I have also noticed in recent years when I became more exposed to cultures and people is the fact that Mexico does not stray from it’s path in reference to who is on the screens. It tends to be people of lighter skin tones with no representation of other facets of color. Colorism continues to be something of a challenge there, though maybe it is becoming more challenged against. The cast compositions are pretty much homogeneous. The conversation needs to continue being had on representation in novelas in countries like Mexico.

I remember years back there was an Indian drama on one of the Spanish channels. It definitely wasn't Univision, but I can't recall which one it was. My mom loved it. She was extremely fascinated with their culture and beauty. At the time, I shrugged it off wondering how she could enjoy it without understanding it (silly girl.) As Dra. A has said and director Bong Joon-ho once eloquently put, "Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing [medias]." Has anyone else seen other media in a language different than yours that you thoroughly enjoyed?