Latinos in Entertainment & The Portrayal of a Culture
Today, more than ever, mass media communications play a vital role in informing the daily decisions that shape our lives. Similarly, opinion polls and images that are broadcast persistently over the airways increasingly influence the public policies and programs that govern our nation. The entertainment industry is a closed industry with few opportunities to gain access. Many who manage an entrance do so by taking internships at studios, networks and production companies, etc. These opportunities are given to young adults known to persons already within the industry -- usually to their acquaintances, family and friends. Since there are few Latinos in the industry, the opportunities given to them are rare. When viewing the images seen on the screen, people write about what they know. Since there is only a sprinkling of Latino writers being produced, the Latino image with a Latino perspective is rarely seen. Instead what you see is non-Latinos' ideas of what a Latino is. Often this image comes from the negative stereotypes writers have seen in film and TV, or the news, or from Latinos they know, most of whom are their waiters, maids, gardeners or nannies. As Latinos are the largest and fastest growing minority in our nation,
When it comes to Latinos, television needs to wise up. While the Hispanic population is booming, making up to 12.5% of people in the USA. If networks are serious about diversifying - and luring the growing audience - they must find more performers such as Judy Reyes, George Lopez, Freddy Rodriguez, and Alanna Ubach. The fact that all have roles or shows in the works points to efforts to bring more Latinos to mainstream TV. TV's week track record with people of color, including Latinos, has drawn complaints, and broadcast executives say they are trying to better reflect the population (Keveney). Just how well are broadcast executives doing in this area? Has a change come about? How diversified are television programs becoming? An article by the Screen Actors Guild gives light to this subject. The article entitled "Still Missing: Latinos In and Out of Hollywood" had this to say: I feel it's long overdue, and I don't understand why that is. I hope [the Latin influence] maintains its momentum. Because in the '80s, Latin was hot for about five minutes with the salsa dancing, and then it went away. I don't know where we go, but we are back again. I didn't know how Latin I was until I got into this business. It was like, "Oh, you're the Latin girl. You'll only be playing these parts" (Bowen). Ric Salinas had some very strong words when speaking of Latinos in the entertainment industry: "We're invisible. Our biggest Latino star today is a Chihuahua" (Blankenship). His concerns are resonated throughout the thoughts and comments of his colleagues Richard Montoya and Herbert Siguenza. Montoya said what concerned him about the Taco Bell campaign wasn't the Spanish-speaking Chihuahua but the lack of any people of color in the commercials because the fast-food chain's market research shows viewer's "don't want to see people of color serving or making their Food" (Blankenship). And networks are wondering why their audiences are diminishing. Their practices are arcane...they do the exact same show, with the same dynamics, over and over. After a while, it gets boring. I grew up watching TV. One of the things I realized growing up [is] how hard it was to be American and Latin and being a perfect blend of both. And in watching TV, I felt excluded, in a way. Until, that is, I found out Linda Carter was half Mexican. I was like, "Oh my God!" I really identified with her. She had the really long brown hair. Not only that, she was Wonder Woman.
Some common words found in the essay are:
, Hollywood Revealing, Insisting English-language, Social Darwinism, Bowen Marie, TV Latinos, African-Americans Mexican-Americans, Bowen Hollywoodcom, TV TV's, Cuban Salsa, entertainment industry, latin influence, people color, latinos portrayed, hyphenated identity, industry opportunities, watching tv, image latino, latinos entertainment, negative stereotypes,
Approximate Word count = 1661
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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