As long as I can remember I’ve been obsessed with mainstream TV and movies. I learnt how to speak English by watching my favourite kids’ programs and 90s films – and my fascination remains intact. Engrossing myself in TV or films was also a way for me to learn about the world and people in it.
However, as a first generation Chilean-Australian in Perth – infamous for being the most isolated city in the world – I never saw myself reflected in Australian media, making me feel invisible.
When you’re young, representations and role models can have a stark impression on your development. When you have no positive examples to look up to it can affect your self-confidence, self-worth and identity.
So I relied on US media for representations of myself and my Latinx culture on screen – but even then, characters of my ethnicity were often presented as negative stereotypes that made me feel even more alienated. The characters were usually fiery Latina bombshells or foreign exchange students who never get the girl, but whose accent is used for comic relief.
Thankfully, my parents raised me to speak Spanish and as a family we at least watched pirated Latin American telenovelas and biopic films about Latinx icons like Selena and Richie Valens.
In recent years, however, I’ve noticed a proliferation of well-produced TV and feature films that portray the diversity of the Latinx community. For the first time these texts have featured real and genuine narratives that reflect my culture. It makes me feel like our stories matter; that people like me matter.
A great sense of power comes from seeing yourself and your culture reflected on screen for the first time. It’s a visceral reaction of joy, a lot of laughs and even more tears. Below are some of the best examples of recent Latinx representation on screen.
Coco
(Picture: Disney/Pixar) Source: Disney/ Pixar
Coco is a heartfelt film that centres around the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) – a traditional day for Mexican people to remember family members who have passed away. Coco portrayed this tradition in the most beautiful and authentic way.
This film was specifically made for Latin American audiences in mind. Throughout the movie the characters switch between Spanish and English, with a bit of Spanglish thrown in. These moments make sense to people who understand both languages and the characteristics of the culture. It felt like those parts in the film were made specifically for us.
I left the cinema unable to hold in my tears. I had seen a story that focused on strong Latin American family values for the first time – and now, I hope, the whole world has been given a deeper insight into this aspect of Latinx culture.
Vida
Ser Anzoategui, Mishel Prada, and Melissa Barrera in Vida ( Photo: Starz Entertainment) Source: Starz Entertainment
Written by Latinx playwright and screenwriter Tanya Saracho, who had previously written for Girls and How to Get Away With Murder, the TV series focuses on two Mexican-American sisters who return to Los Angeles following the death of their mother.
Vida is primarily written by a Latin American writing team. The storytelling is poignant, pulling at heart strings in every episode, while also being dramatic and powerful.
The show does a great job of showcasing the lives of its Latinx, LGBTIQ+ characters, who are navigating western norms and traditional Latin American customs – a common struggle for many Latinx people born in western countries.
Vida also explores current storylines, such as gentefication, complex family dynamics and diversity and acceptance within the Latinx community.
One Day At A Time
Justina Machado, Isabella Gomez, and Marcel Ruiz in One Day at a Time Source: One Day At A Time
Although the series contains typical sitcom tropes, unlike most from the same genre the storyline goes deeper, tackling important issues which affect Latin Americans in the US and around the world such as immigration, homophobia, racism and mental illness. These issues are addressed in an honest and realistic way, which goes against the traditional happy-go-lucky structure, but makes the show more than just your typical sitcom.
Jane the Virgin
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Jane the Virgin was revolutionary for the Latinx community when it first premiered in 2014.
Jane Villanueva, played by Gina Rodriguez, is a studious Latina who falls pregnant after being accidentally artificially inseminated.
Now in its fourth season, Jane the Virgin still manages to grasp viewers with its over-the-top telenovela style storylines, combined with touching moments of honesty and realism.
One of my favourite parts of the show is that Jane’s grandmother, Alba, primarily communicates in Spanish, even when Jane and her mother, Xiomara, respond to her in English. This is quite a common form of communication for Latinx people who grow up in an English-speaking country. My parents and grandparents both speak English as a second language so I communicate with them in ‘Spanglish’. It’s easier for me to speak in English and for them to speak in Spanish, it’s just what works for us.
I used to be able to count on one hand the number of screen characters I related to. The new trend of Latinx film and TV is showing we are more than just stereotypes, we are educated, bilingual, professionals and we're not all immigrants—we live in between two worlds and our narratives matter too.
