Though these notes are very brief from my first meeting with Professor Alegre, I just wanted to get short main point ideas to get the project squared away. I was not sure whether to focus on Mexico or Latin America, but talking about what is a more viable option was key to furthering this idea of mine. We later decided that Mexico was a good choice and that many forms of media interpret Mexico in a stereotypical light. Furthermore, Professor Alegre gave me a few suggestions on what media items to look at and break down.
On our second meeting, I began reading the book titled Based On A True Story: Latin American History At The Movies By Donald F. Stevens. Though it has a focus on Latin America, the themes can be crossed over into Mexico as well. Also, I have begun watching films like Viva Zapata, Three Amigos, and Mexico. These films cover a wide range of Westerns, comedies, and history. While watching I will be taking notes as well as doing research on the commentary these films have that has given us this skewed lens into what Mexico is really like. In between watching these films and reading, I will be having weekly meetings with Professor Alegre about my thoughts and his thoughts on the themes of these movies as well as the book itself.
Throughout the last third and fourth meetings, I have watched and read all the material that I have stated previously, and below are the notes that I have taken from each film to understand the premise of the movie more easily. Furthermore, the peer review session has been completed and the final stages of editing and adding is being finished.
Viva Zapata (1952)
Frida (2002)
Three Amigos (1986)
