City of Quartz and the Bronze Screen
Chapter 5 of City of Quartz really explains the controversy and intensity that revolve around gang violence and how the police dealt with this issues in the late 70’s early 80’s. Davis opens the chapter with a description of Operation Hammer. He really paints Chief Gates as a villainous authority who compares gang members with the Viet Cong. Davis writes that these gangs emerged from economic depression and their violent activity was exacerbated by the police. Davis goes on to explain that the issues surrounding gang violence was due to a class war comparing the manufactured public fear to that of the cold war. This submits that Chief Gates used these gang wars as a reason to commit police brutality.
The Bronze Screen
I enjoyed this piece by Rosa Linda Fregoso. I have to be honest, I have seen a few Cheech and Chong movies and I never really considered Cheech Marin as a social commentator but after reading this piece I am convinced. The explination on how the film objectifies the French girl in red, white and green. I found that to be an interesting comparison to the tattoo of the inmates wife. How they objectify the French women and degrade the Chicano women. I was a little surprised that this essay dealt solely with Born in East L.A.
Political satire and symbolism is a common tool in film and art for that matter to express a particular view point in either a subtle or interesting way. Either way, after reading this I feel the need to rent Born in East L.A and give more consideration to the depth of Cheech Marin.
What other movies did Fregoso anaylze for this study?
Uncategorized | Comment (0)City of Quartz 3 & 4
City of Quartz chapters 3 and 4 seems very similar to many other opinions that I have read on this subject. I do agree that many cities, not just LA insulate and divide their urban areas, cities like NY and Chicago do the very same thing. The fact is, in general, land owners are the rich people, predominantly white and they are the ones with the power. It is an unfortunate reality. Money is power and power, when used can lead to terrible things, including landscape segregation.
I was reading some of the other posts and I agree with the student who was talking about the HOA. I too am a proud (not so much) member of the HOA. This allows other people to dictate what I can put on my porch and what color blinds I can have in my window, it is not a fun thing. I too can understand the association (no pun intended) to the rich landowners in LA.
Uncategorized | Comment (0)If He Hollers Let Him Go
Hello, sorry for the late posts folks, I have been really sick!!!
I rather enjoyed If He Hollers Let Him Go. It was a vivid illustration of the treatment and inequality of African Americans in the 1940’s. Chester Himes paints a raw picture of the main character, Bob’s, struggle with American society. Himes manifests his inner battle through Bob’s haunting dreams. Himes portrays the white characters in the novel as almost oblivious to the maltreatment of African Americans. One of the underlying themes that Himes seems to express is that democracy and the American Dream obviously did not apply to the African Americans during this time period.
I find it sad though, that at the end of the book Bob joins the army. Its almost ironic that he will now fight for the country that he was constantly at odds with.
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