Decisiones Extremas

i watched another episode of Decisiones extremas. They are very much extreme!!! Theres an episode that involves a weird realm of incest and it was intense and really graphic. Latinos are often portrayed as over the top in the way the talk, dress sometimes, etc. In this series it is the rational and crazy decisions that they make for example Sergio sexually abuses his stepsister Vanessa just because. They seem abnormal and off the wall although that is the purpose of the series it does make implications about the culture. Things that kept popping into my mind especially when Vanessa kept saying no when Sergio continued to hit on her was people in real life don't do that. Because I am part African-american I think black people wouldn't do that and if whites were to see it it evokes the same kind of response, whether or not it evokes the kind of opposite thought is well yea I can see latinos doing something like that I personally didn't experience but it makes me wonder.

Commericals

Most of the commercials are for non latino/chicano shows. they have lots of mentions of other networks and show that are happening on them as well as regular mainstream products. I think its interesting that even on a latino based network they still cater their resources for consumption of all american goods and entertainment other than the shows already shown on that specific network.

La Rechazada

La rechazada is an episode of decisiones extremas This movie that aired on mun2 is about a girl who gets bullied in school. The movie begins with a young latina walking to her locker and a group of white kids laughing at her. When she opens it her locker is full of paper and garbage and the other children continue to laugh. Even though the presumably white children are speaking spanish the reason for their anger is because Beatriz is academically successful and a scholarship winner in a private institution. I think this speaks greatly to what Mun2 thinks of Latinas and different from how mainstream portrays them. Then Laura, the lead bullier, continues to say that that is the only way she is able to pay for school and if she can't then she should leave. Camilia who tries to befriend the new girl after this instance also dislikes Laura because her boyfriend left her for Laura. This says about Latino men that they prefer white women. They portray her as dirty and spray lice repellent on her and call her poor, they don't think she is able to afford a cell phone so Laura gets her a prepaid card to call the few friends she may have. Ceci and Cami the girls trying to help her and offer Beatriz drugs to deal with her problems. When she gets fed up with the bullying she threatens to jump on her. this is an example of latino violent behavior. She goes home and complains to her mother who doesn't believer her about the drugs and because of the great school she is in she wants her to stay in no matter what, whether she likes it or not. Whenever her home setting is shown she is in a nice house but it is only her mother that is there. When times get harder she insists on moving in with her dad but her mother reminds her that he rejected her and she drops it. Beatriz has enough of the bullying finally and gets closer friends to evoke revenge on Laura. Laura doesn't like Beatriz being friends with Camilia anymore and agrees to meet them to "chat". Two Latinas getting together worries Laura, the caucasian. The plan is to have Beatriz, under the influence of drugs and witchcraft, to cut Lauras face when they meet at night in the park. Camilia reveals that Beatriz isn't really her friend and says that she if Laura and her parents call the police they will blame Beatriz. They are only in it to continue buying drugs for themselves. Latinos are portrayed as not trustworthy with their friends and dangerous, willing to sell their "friends" or use them for what is beneficial to them. Also they are drug addicts. Beatriz gets extremely drunk and then takes a pill they give her. Instead of a simple cut on the face Beatriz kills her. The other girls threaten to tell on her but she siad they provided the drugs and the weapon for the act so they say they will keep it between them. one of the girls can't handle the pressure and blurts everything out. they all go to jail.

18 and Over

I watched the show 18 and over top 50 music videos of the year, similar to something they do on mtv, that aired for the close of 2010. The host Guadalupe counted down from 50 the top 50 songs. Which was interesting to me was it didn't separate the top songs from main stream culture to latino culture. It included artists like wisin and Yanel, Chino and Nacho, and Shakira, but also included main stream singers Beyonce, Katy Perry, etc. The top artist however was mainstream. I would like to know where the title came from 18 and over. it shows what's appropriate for children when they are searching the internet or watching tv which is important for parents and makes it a family traditional and inviting show.

12 Corazones

Dancer Special

The women were dressed like strippers which I personally didn't appreciate. This one although I understand a little spanish i was glad for the subtitles. They showed go-go dancers in competition with male break dancers. it was an hour competition on who were the better dancers. It was extremely comedic and the hostess was great. In contrast all of the girls were already on stage and not clothed and the men received individual introductions and were clothed. Even though at the beginning the hostess said it was a competition she said that the two dance forms can't compete with each other and men are just as good as women and vice versa. She said this isn't "Dancing with the stars" i think it was funny that she mentioned a majority tv show which the audience screamed and cheered for. Which was interesting. They then made the guys try go-go dancing. Which was hilarious!! She said the purpose was to find love and not compete on the show which for competitions that are not shown on mun2 like American Idol or any other game show like dancing with the stars the purpose is for success but the end showed true genuine concern to have fun which is normally not found on every network. I didn't really get the importance of the belly button showing but it seemed like from the belly button an expert named Edward would show the good aspects and personalities of the go-go dancers. In the end some go go dancers left without break dancers but the ones who were paired up looked happy and they were matched up. It was fun to watch.

Work Out Flow

This network truly has a variety of things going on. From general television networks that I have watched consistently like USA or even sports shows like ESPN Mun2 has capitalized on creating the greatest output from this one network. Aside from shows today I observed from online Solo Chino which was a very short WORKOUT show!!! Wow. Although I watched and did not participate I think it was pretty cool. All of the networks that majority americans have control over do not show the variety that this one network displays and controls for the population it caters to.

Music

I watched music videos today. Mun2 had popular music videos like Willow Smith Whip my hair, and Lady Gaga Telephone. I watched artists I hadn't heard of Makano No me Dejes Solo, Pitbull Bon Bon. Unfortunately Latino women are portrayed very similar to African-American in music videos. They are objectified and materialism is the basis of perceived success. This is part of the music industry in general and I don't think necessarily relates to the equality or inequality of latinos perceptions in the media.