Completing this project was no easy task as it took many weeks to complete, but it was enjoyable. Feeling out sources and reading them to make sure that they were credible was a long yet needed process to make this thesis work. I loved taking notes, watching the film, and reading to be engaged with the question “What is Hollywood’s problem with Mexico?” It shows me that my critical thinking skills and note skills have only advanced during my time here are the university.
I chose this project because the first iteration was simple and so interesting. Taking the Image of Africa class was just so much fun with Professor Bernt that I had to have another go at it. Unfortunately, Professor Bernt is not here at the university anymore, so the scope has to change. This was not ideal but not impossible as I recalled taking several Latin American classes with Rob Alegrea. So this was the perfect opportunity to expand/rebrand this project off the ground.
I think this project just opened my knowledge and understanding of how media and Hollywood really can have a hold on how we interpret things. Furthermore, I think my critical thinking skills when it comes to vetting sources and taking notes on each source are super important to not only my process but THE process as well. As a history major, social commentary on how we interpret things as social history is to me what history is really about.
I think interacting with most of the sources as well as giving my commentary on the matter, really shows the interest and changes I was looking for. Furthermore, bringing in other references from other things certainly helped as well like Looney Tunes and Breaking Bad. Also understanding how women in film have been used to only portray their bodies and not their struggles or triumphs, shows that every representation matters. Not only but finding improvements and recommendations shows that the way we view/interact is indeed changing.
