Page 97 - Cultural Studies A Practical Introduction

Ethnicity 81

Student Exercise

Look at these ads targeted to Latinos and discuss whether or not they
draw on ethnic stereotypes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjkH6z53Rj4&feature=PlayList
&p=78056437A20A0981&index=2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjkH6z53Rj4&feature=PlayList
&p=78056437A20A0981&index=2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN30hc3ICUQ
Stuff White People Like is a popular blog that has landed a book
deal for its author, and spawned a host of imitators (such as Stuff
Iranians Like and Stuff Asians Like). The author of this blog details
stereotypically White activities and gives tongue - in - cheek instruc-
tions on how to interact with White People. The author ’ s tone makes
it clear that this is self - conscious stereotyping (and other blogs state
this clearly). But does such self - conscious stereotyping act to draw
attention to the often ludicrous nature of ethnic stereotypes, or does
it instead act to normalize these stereotypes, making them seem
more accurate and applicable?
Stuff White People Like: http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com
Stuff Iranians Like: http://stuffiranianslike.wordpress.com

Stuff Asian People Like: http://www.asian-central.com/
stuffasianpeoplelike/
The newspaper column Ask a Mexican by Gustavo Arellano
addresses questions and comments about Mexican culture, as well as
Hispanic culture at large. Arellano responds to readers ’ questions with
a blend of English and Spanish slang, in essays that discuss topics from
immigration and migrant workers, to the veneration of Tweety Bird.

As a columnist and a public figure, Arellano has taken on the job of
representing and explaining Mexican - ness. But what makes him
suited to this responsibility? How does one become (or avoid becom-
ing) representative of an entire ethnicity? Arellano is himself Mexican

– does that mean that he is automatically qualified as an expert on
Mexican ethnicity? If so, why is his viewpoint more valid than that of
the Mexican readers who he often corrects in his column? If not, what
differences are there between identifying with an ethnic group and

representing an ethnic group, and what qualifies a person to do either?
Ask a Mexican: http://www.ocweekly.com/columns/view/3246