Journal Entry #1A

Upon watching Speedy Gonzales and reminiscing on the rare times in my childhood in which the TV actually worked, I began to think about the portrayals place upon Mexicans and the way they are reflected in the media. I have mixed feelings on the character of Speedy Gonzales. Although the episode I watched titled, "Astroduck," displayed the evident outcome of the Mexican-American War in which people who lived in the lands acquired by the United States often lost their homes, I try to focus more on the way in which Speedy reacted to the events occurring, rather than the way in which he was being portrayed. (Usage of Sombrero, Spanglish etc.) It's important to note, that although Speedy's appearance is based on flawed perceptions of what a Mexicano looks like, this episode showcases a different alternative than that of what many Mexicans after the acquisition were faced to deal with. I was thrilled to see the way in which he so cleverly was able to defeat the oppressor (that being the duck, or metaphorically the U.S Government that pushed many Mexicans out of their homes). Another interesting observation I made when watching this episode is the fact that much like in the Lone Ranger Episode, speedy is showcased to be kind and gentle, whereas in reality, many Mexicans in the time after Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo were furious with the treatment they received. This only reinforces the idea that Mexicans are weak and lack assertiveness, which uphold the negative stereotypes embedded in the Mexican culture.