A Better Life Movie Analysis
A Better Life Response paper
The film A Better Life focuses on an undocumented Mexican Immigrant and his son’s daily life and struggles living in East Los Angeles. Many viewed this film as a success and it even went on to be nominated for an academy award. Others, like Huffington Post contributor Jonathan Perez, found this movie to be filled with harmful stereotypes and depictions of Latinx people living in the community.
Perez states that his only reservation with the film is the representation of the characters and the community. The film gives off the impression that everyone in the community is gang affiliated or will eventually become one since there is nothing else to aspire to. There is no diversity in this film. Perez questions “How
…show more content…
Perez adds that since 1991 to 1998 crime actually decreased in California by 36%, but the media coverage rose 400% to depict the communities as lawless and dangerous. Many laws and propositions have passed that encourage minority young to be imprisoned as adults for crimes that were committed as minors. Aside from the laws, the movie did not do a good job at illustrating relations with the police. Police are seen as aggressive enemies in these communities. They make life a lot harder than it needs to be. Perez admits that in the past 8 months he has been pulled over more than 10 times. Police actively target people of color in these communities and are collaborating with Immigration Customs Enforcement. In the film they are shown as neutral, and only appearing when a crime has been committed. Personally I picked up on this and I hated this aspect of the film. In these neighborhoods, police sometimes don’t even show up when they are called, so I found it ironic that an officer was always around when the two major crimes were taking place in the film. People are also often know to use tactics as checkpoints looking for drunk drivers in order to arrest undocumented Latinx. Perez goes on to describe a scene of police brutality and says that if films would like to show violence in these communities they should show where the violence is actually stemming
Racial Profiling In Bob Herbert's Jim Crow Policing
295 Words | 2 PagesNew York Police Officers feel no commitment in having to treat any black or Hispanic with respect because of their race. The generic debate made by Bob Herbert in his work, Jim Crow Policing, is that stops are a representation of cops being racist and harassers as well. More precisely Herbert feuds that racial profiling has become a tool of harassment. Herbert states, “Rather than a legitimate crime-fighting tool, these stops are a despicable racially oriented tool of harassment”(NY Times Herbert). In the passage, Herbert is specifying that blacks and Hispanics were commonly stopped and frisked for their race.
Social Control Theory In End Of Watch
587 Words | 3 PagesIt appears there is a code of loyalty among those who are a part of the LAPD. One can see there is a close relationship between the members of law enforcement even through all the foul language, crude jokes, and the occasional pranks. An example of the social control theory is shown at Miguel’s funeral and Brian’s wedding. In each incident, there is a great police presence to support their fellow officers.
Michelle Alexander The Lockdown Analysis
718 Words | 3 PagesNot to mention all the undocumented people that feel oppressed by officers and scared to talk back to them with a “no”. In chapter two, the author presents a section titled Just Say No. In this section the author illustrates a time where two police officers stopped a bus to search for drugs. Police officers never warned individuals that they had the right to remain silent and, therefore, minorities were trapped and found guilty for carrying drugs. In addition, the book discusses the Florida vs Botsick case that states that people have the right to refuse answering the police.
Parenthood Movie Analysis
773 Words | 4 PagesThroughout the movie, Parenthood, the three main parenting styles were displayed throughout as, the dictator, permissive, and democratic. The dictator form of parenting, also known as the authoritarian parent sets strict rules and guidelines and will not changing them or give any leeway. Children that have authoritarian parents usually have low self-esteem and trouble to do things on their own when they get older. Then there is the permissive parent, who rather than setting rules and guidelines, opts out of this, their discipline is not seen and if they do set rules, they don 't punish when the rules are broken. There is also a balance of good parenting seen in the democratic form.
The Bronze Screen Film Analysis
999 Words | 4 PagesThe Bronze Screen introduced both positive and negative portrayals of Latinas and Latinos in film. While there are plenty of positive Latino roles in films, Latinos and Latinas should be included in more positive roles because the negative roles Latinos have in films cause negative stereotypes. Positive and negative representations of Latinos in films has always fluctuated throughout history, however the more negative ones seem to always overpower the good ones. The film, “The Bronze Screen”, gave many examples of the negative roles Latinos played in films throughout film history. Early films included Latino actors, however they did not always have a lead role or even a positive one.
Themes In The Tortilla Curtain
920 Words | 4 PagesThe majority of illegal immigrant’s chances for success is limited. It is more likely for people who have already been successful in life to achieve their dream than those have not had the chance to. The Tortilla Curtain illustrates the hardships and the discriminations illegal immigrants face with higher class Americans. The coyotes symbolize the immigrant’s lifestyle and how they are viewed with disdain and mistrust. The Arroyo Blanco community presents those who view the immigrants as such, and how difficult it is to break down ignorance barriers to be accepted into it.
Mexican American Culture In Bless Me Ultima
1414 Words | 6 PagesMany stories embody the cultural aspects of Mexican-Americans and their struggles with living in a discriminatory society. Stories like With
Themes In Mi Familia
938 Words | 4 PagesThe immigrants entering the United States throughout its history have always had a profound effect on American culture. However, the identity of immigrant groups has been fundamentally challenged and shaped as they attempt to integrate into U.S. society. The influx of Mexicans into the United States has become a controversial political issue that necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their cultural themes and sense of identity. The film Mi Familia (or My Family) covers the journey and experiences of one Mexican-American (or “Chicano”) family from Mexico as they start a new life in the United States. Throughout the course of the film, the same essential conflicts and themes that epitomize Chicano identity in other works of literature
Sociological Analysis Of The Movie Crash
1542 Words | 7 PagesThis movie did a great job of showing how certain society’s work, races such as African Americans, Hispanics, and Persians/Asians were being treated wrong in the movie, and it displays the sociological concepts.
Police Brutality Synthesis Essay
1491 Words | 6 PagesIn “Etiquette of Police Violence” Rion Alamar Scott talks about some of the things cops first assume to do when approaching someone of color. He then continues to tell his audience about events that have happened numerous times. Even goes into detail about the prosecution of the accused officers and how they went. Scott makes a lot of good points about how cops
Police Brutality Argumentative Essay
760 Words | 4 PagesAn occurrence observed by the population of Los Angeles, California conveys the existence of racism and police brutality. According to The Polls-Trends: Racial Differences in Attitudes Toward the Police, “…three quarters of blacks, but only 38 percent of whites, continued to view police brutality as a common occurrence” (Tuch and Weitzer
Salt Of The Earth Film Analysis
1193 Words | 5 PagesI chose this film because it showed how hard the union workers and families worked in fighting racial injustices, and because it inspired myself to move forward with strong ideologies and pride. 2. Stereotyping in mass media was an important concern of Chicana/o media activists because it imprinted a demeaning label by only casting Chicana/o actors with "minor roles: villains, sidekicks, temptresses, where their main function is to provide the protagonists, typically a handsome white
The Incredibles Film Analysis
1304 Words | 6 PagesThroughout life we are told to express our individuality and swim against the stream of the general population to put emphasis on the characteristics that make us, in short, individuals. Cherishing what makes an individual special and different is what establishes roots in creativity and self expression, however there is a forced false sense of comradery in today’s society that takes the form of involvement with the masses; peer pressure forces many people to fall into the mold of an average character. The Academy award winning film, “The Incredibles” displays the themes of expressing one’s true self and special qualities, and in contrast repression by society to fit a basic mold. These themes are elaborated on through the development of the main characters and expressed further through the supporting roles and their dialogue and endeavors.
The Breakfast Club Essay
178 Words | 1 PagesIn the movie, The Breakfast Club, five high school students spend their Saturday detention together. The popular girl Claire Standish, the athlete Andrew Clark, the nerd Brian Johnson, the outcast Allison Reynolds, and the rebellious delinquent John Bender must put aside their differences to survive their detention with their assistant principal, Mr. Vernon. While in detention, they are told to write about “who they really are” in one thousand words. Throughout the day, they reveal their struggles involving their cliques and their home lives. As the movie progresses, the audience finds out the reason each teen is in detention which brings up a discussion about who they really are.
Ideology In The Movie Crash
1136 Words | 5 PagesWhat I mean is a African American may view this film as a means to diminish their culture, a white person may believe this film makes them look evil and a police officer may believe this film makes officers look like they are above the law or feel like they should be above the law. These differences can cause conflict when
More about A Better Life Movie Analysis
Racial Profiling In Bob Herbert's Jim Crow Policing
295 Words | 2 PagesSocial Control Theory In End Of Watch
587 Words | 3 PagesMichelle Alexander The Lockdown Analysis
718 Words | 3 PagesParenthood Movie Analysis
773 Words | 4 PagesThe Bronze Screen Film Analysis
999 Words | 4 PagesThemes In The Tortilla Curtain
920 Words | 4 PagesMexican American Culture In Bless Me Ultima
1414 Words | 6 PagesThemes In Mi Familia
938 Words | 4 PagesSociological Analysis Of The Movie Crash
1542 Words | 7 PagesPolice Brutality Synthesis Essay
1491 Words | 6 PagesPolice Brutality Argumentative Essay
760 Words | 4 PagesSalt Of The Earth Film Analysis
1193 Words | 5 PagesThe Incredibles Film Analysis
1304 Words | 6 PagesThe Breakfast Club Essay
178 Words | 1 PagesIdeology In The Movie Crash
1136 Words | 5 Pages