Cine-Mexicans is about the cinematic representations of "Mexicans" in US American film. By tracking the history of cinematic representations of "Mexicans" in the US, Cine-Mexicans also tracks the notable developments in the Chicano/ a experience and comments on the relationship between the USA and Mexico, between US culture and Mexican/Chicano culture, between US Americans and Mexican-Americans (and/or "Chicano/as"), and even Mexican nationals and immigrants. This book also doubles as an instructive look at the history of cinematic representations of "Mexicans in US/Hollywood movies as an introduction to the development of Chicano/a-themed feature films in which Mexican-Americans ("Chicanos" and "Chicanas") sought to make their own films, for their own audiences, as a response to mainstream cinematic representations of Mexicans. Cine-Mexicans is an introductory text that highlights major cultural and political issues affecting Chicano/a communities that are portrayed in cinema/film, so it can be used for classes in: "Chicano Cinema," "Mexican-American Cinema," "Mexican Cinema," "Borderlands Cinema," "Ethnicity/Race in Media" or even issues in "Latino/a," "Latin American," or "Hispanic" cinema.
Section I: First Era of Chicano/a Films: The Pre-Chicano Era (P.C.E.)
1. An Introduction of Sorts, or … “The Ballad of Chicano Cinema”
◆ What’s a Chicano? (Defining “Chicano”)
◆ So What Is “Chicano Cinema” All About?
◆ Our Approach to Chicano Cinema
◆ Américo Paredes, His Pistol, and His Hand
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982)
2. The Roots of Chicano Cinema, 1800s–1920s
◆ “Mexicans” and “Gringos”
◆ “Mexicans” in US Media and Popular Culture
◆ “Mexicans” in US Movies
◆ Roots of Chicano Protest
◆ Summary
İ Salt of the Earth (1954)
3. Cinematic “Mexicans” and Latino Imagery, 1900s–1950s
◆ A “Crash Course” on Hollywood’s Latino Imagery
◆ Pachucos and Zoot-Suiters
İ Zoot Suit (1981)
◆ An Interlude: Hot Tamales and “Spicy” Latina Women
4. Introducing “The Matrix”
◆ What Is Chicano Cinema Again?
◆ The Chicano Cinema Matrix “Reloaded”
◆ But Wait a Minute. There’s a Slight Problem
5. Proto-Chicano Cinema? (1950s–1960s)
◆ Social Problems and Good Samaritans
İ Giant (1956)—“Fight Scene”
◆ “Proto-Chicano” Film?
İ Touch of Evil (1958)
◆ The First “Chicano” Film?
Section II: Second Era of Chicano/a Films: The Chicano Movement in Film(s) (C.M.F.)
6. The “Chicano Movement” in Film, 1960s–1970s
◆ The Four “Eras” of Chicano Cinema
◆ An Interlude: Of Small Brown Dogs, Mice, and “Rats”
◆ The Advent of “Chicano” Cinema:
I Am Joaquín/ Yo Soy Joaquín (1969)
İ I Am Joaquín/Yo Soy Joaquín (1969)—
Part 1 of 2
İ I Am Joaquín/Yo Soy Joaquín (1969)—
Part 2 of 2
◆ Walking Out
İ Walkout (2006)
7. The “Chicano Era,” 1970s and Beyond
◆ Early Chicano Films
◆ A Cinema of Hunger? (Please, Don’t Bury Me Alive!)
İ Please, Don’t Bury Me Alive! (1976)
◆ Other Chicano Films in the 1970s
İ Raíces de Sangre (1977)
İ Alambrista! (1977)
◆ Oh Yeah, the Cholo Gangster Flicks and Other Border Movies
Section III: Third Era of Chicano/a Films: The “Classic” Period of Chicano/a Cinema (C.P.)
8. The “Classic Period” of Chicano Films, 1980s–1990s
◆ How to Categorize Chicano Films
◆ The Transition into the “Classic Period”
◆ Chicano/a “Classics”
◆ Markers of the “Classic Period”
Section IV: Fourth Era of Chicano/a Films: The “New Chicano/a Era” (N.C.E.)
9. The “New Chicano/a Era,” 2000s and Beyond
◆ The Defining Factors of the “New Chicano/a Era”
◆ From a Tejana to Luminarias (or, Texas to California)
İ Luminarias (2000)
◆ Other “New Chicano/a” Movies
◆ “Chicanx” Representations in “Gay” San Francisco
İ La Mission (2009)
◆ The Meaning of It All (… a Conclusion of Sorts)
10. Chicanx Cinema “Futures” in Film
◆ Invasive Aliens and Scared White People
◆ Chicanx/Latinx Futurism
İ Sleep Dealer (2007)
◆ Creating a Chicanx Future through Film
Section V: Fifth and Possibly Final Era of Chicano/a Films
X. The Next Era of Chicanx/Latinx Film?
Appendices
A. “The Chicano/a Cinema Matrix”
B. Real-Life Matters #1: “Ken Burns Hates Mexicans”
C. Real-Life Matters #2: “Chihuahuas … Again”
İ The Taco Bell Dog (Late-1990s)
D. Real-Life Matters #3: “Golden Sombreros” (or … “SVP in a Sombrero”)
İ SVP in a Sombrero (2016)
E. Real-Life Matters #4: “Trump’s Bad Hombres”
F. Real-Life Matters #5: “Halloween Mexicans”
G. Real-Life Matters #6: Japanese “Chicanos”
İ Japanese “Chicanos” (2017)
H. Real-Life Matters #7: Chicanos on TV Today
İ “Tuco vs. Mike” (2016)
I. Coco, Book of Life
X. Next Level Activity: Write a Movie Review
Further Resources in Chicanx Cinema for Students and Instructors
Index