TCCD Collegian September 22, 2021

collegian.tccd.edu

That’s not Black Panther PG. 4

Wednesday, September 22, 2021 – Volume 34 • Issue 5 Entertainment

Opinion

Opinion

Editorial

Feature

LIGHTS UP Musical takes time to represent culture accurately. PG. 4

LET THEM EAT CAKE Hypocrisy is on full display at the Met Gala. PG. 5

PORTRAY HISPANICS CORRECTLY Media has an issue with how it depicts Hispanic culture. PG. 5

IMPORTANCE OF CELEBRATIONS Take time to learn different cultural histories. PG. 5

ARTISTIC EXPRESSION Hispanic/Latinx artists that are worth knowing. PG. 6

SOUTHEAST

Hispanic culture spotlighted during event SE’s Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff begins with keynote speaker JOSE ROMERO editor-in-chief

The song “Cielito Lindo,” a popular Mexican love ballad, played through SE ballroom’s speakers as SE coordinator of supplemental instructions Maria Delgado prepared to step on stage to share her experience as a Latina immigrant in America during the Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff Sept. 15.

The event had a table lining the wall, filled with various Hispanic dishes such as pupusas and pan dulce. The smell permeated throughout the room’s tables where students were seated, anticipating the main event, Delgado’s keynote speech.

Her presentation “Hispanic Heritage: Orgullo, Honor, y Lucha” directly translates to

“The

letter said, ‘To Maria Delgado.

Congratulations, you have been accepted’” into North Lake, she said excitedly. “I was like ‘Oh, my goodness.’It was literally like as if I got a letter from Harvard.”

Maria Delgado

SE coordinator of supplemental instructions

pride, honor and struggle, summarizing the main ideas of her speech.

Delgado was born in Los Tanques, a small farm village in the central Mexico state of Zacatecas. She attended elementary, middle school and a year of high school there.

“One of the reasons why my family decided to move to Texas was because I was finishing middle school, and the farm didn’t have a high school,” she said. “In order for me to go to high school, it required either my grandma or my mom to move with me to the city.”

So, she said her mom and dad decided to move instead.

She was 15 years old when she came to the U.S. and said the only thing she knew how to say in English was “hi” and “goodbye.”

After discussing her adolescence, she moved on to talking about her professional background.

She began at Dallas College’s North Lake Campus, where she eventually earned her associate degree.

She went back to Mexico that summer to visit her family. Taking a trip there is important, she said, because it helps her remember her roots. She reflected on her journey to the U.S. and the sacrifices her parents made to move.

“Yes, we had a better life here, but my

Ian McIntosh/The Collegian

Students lined up at the SE ballroom Sept. 15 to get various culturally accurate foods. Dishes like tamales, pupusas and pan dulce were handed out. mom and my dad left most of their family in Los Tanques,” she said. “So, whenever we moved, the emphasis was to go to college, stay in college and graduate.”

She said she couldn’t afford to drop out or only finish halfway because of the sacrifices made to get here to where she was. Fortunately for her, when she returned from her trip, she had received a letter that would help her stay on her path.

“The letter said, ‘To Maria Delgado.

NE courts allows anybody access to outdoor sports

Congratulations, you have been accepted’” into North Lake, she said excitedly. “I was like ‘Oh, my goodness.’ It was literally like as if I got a letter from Harvard.”

At the time, she didn’t know there was a difference between four-year and two-year colleges. Even though now she knows North Lake is open to most, the letter was still special to her and will forever be proud of receiving her associate degree.

See Kickoff, page 2

DISTRICT

Winter approaches, students concerned JUAN SALINAS II campus editor

Jose Romero/The Collegian

NE student Steven Parker practices dunking the ball on NE Campus’ basketball court. There is also an area for tennis and track.

SOUTH

Campus workshop teaches students how to succeed KATHERINE HOWE reporter

The Secret to Success workshop Sept. 16 on South Campus featured success coach Elvis Martinez who emphasized five foundational habits that successful college students should practice.

Martinez discussed registering for the right classes, meeting with their academic adviser, engaging in campus activities, recognizing their learning style and introducing them-

selves to their instructor.

“Keep in mind TCC has a lot of resources including tutoring labs, the online Connect Campus and more,” Martinez said. “We just need our students to let us know what we can help with.”

Success coach Cindy Dorton said the goal of the event is to provide students with practical information to help ensure their overall academic success.

“Part of being a student-ready and student-engaged college is addressing the unique needs of a diverse student body and support-

ing them both inside and outside of the classroom,” Dorton said. “Hopefully, that’s what students will find when they attend one of our Success Workshops.”

South student Christopher Le said he would use the tips that Martinez talked about, including contacting academic advisers and getting involved.

“The most important thing I took away from this is knowing how to actively participate and use the resources that TCC has to offer,” Le said. “They have a ton of opportunities that a lot of students don’t know about.”

As winter looms on the horizon, TCC students share their thoughts on the Texas power grid, and whether or not it will be able to sustain another winter storm.

Back in February, Texas faced recordbreaking low temperatures and power outages which resulted in a total of 210 stormrelated deaths, according to The Texas Department of State Health Services.

The state government was able to pass legislation to overhaul the power grid. The main part of the bill was the weatherization of the power generators to prepare them for extreme weather.

In a poll conducted on The Collegian’s social media, 100% of 31 people said they don’t trust Texas’ power grid to handle another winter storm.

“We didn’t have any power for three days,” NW student Christian McClain said.

“I have multiple different family members in different households so it was interesting talking to them back and forth, figuring out who was struggling the most.”

NW student Jeremiah Miller had a different experience.

He said he didn’t have his power go out whatsoever because his house shares a grid with a hospital.

Miller is from Minnesota, so he said he’s seen worse winters than in Texas.

While he was amused by the whole situation, he sympathizes with native Texans.

“I understand that they don’t have the infrastructure for it down here,” he said.

“This was a really funny thing to experience.”

NW student Kenya Brown took the time without electricity to focus on a creative pursuit. She finished her music album, “Heat,” while cooped up during the storm.

She said she was shocked at what she was able to achieve while not glued to her phone.

“Since I couldn’t have my phone, I was able to sit down and marinate with myself,” she said. “I was able to create more songs and poetry.” only time will tell if Texas has learned from their mistakes or we will be left out in the cold again.

NEWS

2 • Wednesday, September 22, 2021 SOUTHEAST

Abstract side of artist is main attraction in exhibit

This piece is called “Am Not” and it was made in 2020. The exhibit explores themes of social constructs and existence.

Photos by Ian McIntosh/The Collegian

This piece is called “Maybe I Am” and was made by Andrea Tosten, an artist-in-residence.

This piece, “I Am,” was also made in 2020. Tosten’s art is influenced by Annette Lawrence, Janine Antoni and more.

‘Flibbertigibbet’ is main inspiration for South Campus art exhibition MADISON KING reporter

The Carillon Gallery in the South Performing Arts Center is hosting an art exhibit that may leave viewers a bit tongue-tied in more ways than one.

“Flibbertigibbet” by Andrea Tosten, which runs until Sept. 30, drops them into the middle of an internal conflict.

The pieces that make use of screenprint, ink, acrylic and mixed media all on paper wrestle with the concept of being a flibbertigibbet, defined by Merriam-Webster as “a silly, flighty person.”

The word’s etymology even ties to its gossip and talkativeness. Gossiping in many cultural contexts tends to be associated with femininity which makes the piece “I Am,” a

Kickoff

screenprint on paper with the words “I AM A FLIBBERTIGIBBET MAN” even more impactful in its implications.

“Andrea Tosten has created a powerful exhibition that has opened our students’ eyes to new possibilities of expressing their creative visions while effectively engaging in social dialogues,” South fine arts chair Joshua Goode said.

Tosten worked on “Flibbertigibbet” during her time as an artist-in-residence at South Campus, chaired by Goode.

“What is most remarkable is that our students were able to witness the production of this artwork during her artist residency,” Goode said. “They gained insight into what the creative process is for a professional artist and realized how they may develop their own career in the arts.”

Tosten has been doing calligraphy for over 15 years and teaching for nine.

It is apparent in the piece “Maybe I Am,” which is a colorful standout in the exhibit.

The background has ruled paper with the sentence, “Maybe I am a flibbertigibbet,” repeating on every line in Tosten’s handwriting — a familiar sight to those who were subject to such punishment in grade school.

On top of the statement is a colorfully written inquiry that seems to echo beyond the canvas itself, “Am I a flibbertigibbet?” in the same sweeping loops and delicate curls as the text behind it.

“In ‘Flibbertigibbet,’ I use letterforms to ask one question and answer it in various ways in order to visually explore concepts of self, the human condition, existential dread and social constructs in a time of uprisings

and a pandemic,” Tosten said via email when asked about the exhibit.

Tosten’s bookbinding skills are on display in the exhibit as well, which features a series of flipbooks, allowing the words “I AM NOT A FLIBBERTIGIBBET” to come to life in thought-provoking animation styles.

“Her art spoke like it was either trying to convince the viewer or the artist,” said Clara Howard, a South fine arts student. “Some pieces shouted, some were quiet and others felt like there’s so much happening.“ Howard also brought up the exhibit’s flipbooks, which she highly recommended people check out.

“I honestly think that people should go to the exhibit to form their own opinion on the art,” she said.

can enable them to be role models to students that classify as the same ethnicity, she said. It gives them someone to look up to and someone to aspire to be. One of her concerns with faculty that aren’t diverse is that they can’t empathize with cultural problems.

To cap off her speech, she gave the audience some pieces of advice.

“For Latino students, sometimes maybe we might feel that we’re embarrassed by our culture or our background,” she said. “You don’t have to feel embarrassed. You don’t have to change who you are to fit in a certain role.”

At the end of Delgado’s speech, SE government instructor Olivia Agudelo shared her thoughts on the presentation.

“What I really admire of Dr. Delgado is the passion to help students overall,” Agudelo said. “That’s like the first thing that she always tells everyone. ‘Be humble. Help anyone that you can.’”

She said Delgado embodies what she should do, as a Latina or anybody pursuing a degree. Agudelo admires how knowledge-

able Delgado is on many topics because when students were asking questions that weren’t in Delgado’s specialty, she still provided resources for them.

Because Agudelo was raised in America, she said her Mexican culture wasn’t entirely ingrained in her, so having Hispanic Heritage Month events like this helps her represent who she is.

One of the event organizers and student development associate Frankie Ward said there are more events planned for Hispanic Heritage Month.

“We have our big event coming up, Abrazando Al Exito,” she said. “That’ll be Oct. 14, and that definitely is one of the biggest events that I would say students need to go to.”

Ward said these events are important because it helps students embrace their culture, and hers as well since she’s a Spaniard.

Abrazando Al Exito will be hosted at the SE Campus ballroom, including scholarship opportunities and a speech from a civil rights leader.

(continued from page 1)

Ian McIntosh/The Collegian

Maria Delgado gave a keynote speech at the event, discussing being a Latina.

“You have to be proud of that,” she said.

“You have to accept that this is just the beginning.”

She then transferred to UTA where she finished her bachelor’s degree. But Delgado’s degree path didn’t end there.

“I had a mentor, and she said, ‘You need to go for a master’s,’” Delgado said.

She received her master’s in higher education at UNT, but that also wasn’t the end of it. Her mentor pushed her to get a doctorate, which Delgado received in 2017 at UTA. She now researches the experiences of Latino/Latina students enrolled in community colleges in North Texas. Another topic she’s been researching is the use of the term “Latinx” — pronounced luh-TEE-neks.

“Every year, you’re going to see an increase of Latino students in our community colleges,” she said. “The problem with that is that we have all these Latinos in community colleges, but the current administrators and faculty do not reflect the diversity of the student demographic.”

Having Hispanic staff and administrators

FEATURE

New art exhibit searches for home

Wednesday, September 22, 2021 • 3

Photo courtesy of Travis Brian Linville

Leah Gose is a visual artist and said the series is meant to evoke perpetual movement.

Photographer Leah Gose challenges memory, belongings with art LOGAN EVANS

managing editor

Photo courtesy of Leah Gose

Base images shot in the art exhibit were taken using a 1913 Kodak Hawkeye camera.

Photo courtesy of Penelope Bisbee

Leah Gose discusses her work with students at the Sept. 10 opening of the Transplantations exhibit.

Strands of grain scratch the image of an empty poolside shed. Beside it, skeletal branches reach into a monochrome sky. Nothing about the scene indicates a time or a place, but it looks familiar, like it was plucked from deep in the viewer’s memory.

This is Transplantations #1, part of a new exhibit by photographer Leah Gose on display at SE Campus.

The series explores personal connection to landscape and the disconnect someone can feel without a strong sense of home.

“I’ve always been fascinated by memory,” Gose said. “Questioning what is real and what isn’t. I spend a lot of time in my head unpacking those questions.”

Transplantations started over ten years ago, when Gose began playing with a 1913 Kodak Hawkeye film camera that was left behind in her graduate studio at Texas Woman’s University. Over time, she accumulated a pool of images using it across Kansas, Texas, Virginia, Michigan and Tennessee. Although the photos span multiple states, years and seasons, Gose found that each conveyed a sense of movement and the feeling of being unable to settle. Gose — who has never lived in the same place longer than 6 years — combined the images to evoke that feeling of separation from one’s environment.

“A lot of the images have fences,” she said. “I’m putting the viewer in the place of being outside, trying to look at something. There’s a sense you can’t get in.”

Gose works with a mixture of analog, alternative and digital photography. She enjoys working with her hands, and finds digital-only work unfulfilling. Nothing in her body of work consists of a single image — many of her pieces come by way of manipulation and collage, never being fixed to one idea.

“I see an image in my head and then I try and go make it,” she said. “It never turns out the way I originally see it, and I’ve learned that is OK. That’s just my intuition.”

Rather than grouping the collage pieces of Transplantation by location or landscape, Gose combined

the photos in a way that is purely visual, searching for whichever combination of photos stirred her the most.

In the process, she made different variations of each image, printed them, and hung them on her wall to allow their impact to arrive to her over time.

Like Transplantations, much of Gose’s other work deals with memory, nostalgia and perception. Her MFA project Afterlife of Memory is a group of dreamlike collages made with her old family photographs. When Gose was younger, her grandmother suffered from Alzheimer’s, which made a considerable impact on her future art.

“I’ve kind of accepted that I’m always going to be working with these similar themes,” she said. “I’m always going to be pulling at these different threads.”

Transplantations is the first in-person exhibition to be displayed at SE’s art corridor since the campus closed in March 2020. Gallery coordinator Penelope Bisbee, who attended TWU with Gose, said it was the perfect series to return to form with.

“It ended up being so appropriate with having gone through COVID and being at home,” she said.

Bisbee said students have a lot to learn by seeing art displayed in-person. There are textures and nuances that don’t perfectly translate to a screen, she said.

The exhibit opened Sept. 10 with an on-campus artist talk by Gose. During the event, she brought out her film camera and demonstrated how it worked to the audience while explaining her process behind the series and the ideas behind it.

SE art instructor Jungwan Kim attended the event and could relate to the exhibit’s exploration of home.

“I am an immigrant,” Kim said. “Although I lived in my home country longer than I’ve lived here, I feel my current place is my home. I am more comfortable here. Nevertheless, I have a nostalgic image of home from my country. Isn’t it interesting that where I am from is my ‘home’ country?”

In addition to the photography series, the on-installation features a looping short film by Gose featuring a montage of landscapes and scenery matching the tone of the photographs. The exhibit will run through Oct. 8.

Photo courtesy of Leah Gose

“Transplantations #1” is the first image in the exhibit by photographer Leah Gose on SE Campus.

ENTERTAINMENT

4 • Wednesday, September 22, 2021 MOVIE REVIEW

Musical manages to land all high notes

Courtesy of Warner Media

During the musical number “96,000,” the characters discuss what they would do if they won the lottery. The songs have a mix of rap and regular singing.

JOSE ROMERO editor-in-chief

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony award-winning Broadway musical “In The Heights” gave a glimpse of mainstream Hispanic representation in 2008. Skip forward to this year,

and the musical received a movie adaptation that puts the culture in the forefront once again.

The film begins by introducing the main character Usnavi, played

by Anthony Ramos, as he narrates a story to a group of children on a beach in an undisclosed location.

He says he’s going to tell a story of

Usnavi, played by Anthony Ramos, stands tall with a Puerto Rican flag during the musical number “Carnaval del Barrio.”

a place filled with music. He begins rhythmically knocking on a table, kicking off the first musical number.

The music of this film takes inspiration from pieces of Hispanic culture. Hints of merengue, reggaeton, cumbia and modern rap can be found throughout. Each song gives the audience an idea of what the characters are thinking and the adversity they’re facing.

Usnavi is a charismatic protagonist who manages to get viewers to care about his end goal, which is to move back to Puerto Rico and reopen his late father’s shop. Currently, he resides in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in New York City.

The neighborhood has a wide range of stories to tell. From a student who wants to drop out of Yale because of the prejudice she’s encountered to a salon owner who’s been pushed out of her shop due to rising prices, each story tackles various themes that relate to real-world struggles.

Each supporting character has

something to offer. They’re never just there to fill the space. Sonny, played by Gregory Diaz IV, is Usnavi’s cousin, and they both run a convenience store in the corner of the neighborhood. Their relationship is heartwarming. Seeing how far Usnavi is willing to go to help Sonny really demonstrates how important family is in Hispanic culture.

All the relationships shown throughout the film capture the essence of friendship perfectly. Each character is just happy to be around one another and willing to help in any way, shape or form. And their musical numbers do not disappoint.

It’s difficult to not dance around to the melodies as a shot filled with great choreography and composition lights the screen. Numbers like “96,000” and “No Me Diga” are uplifting tunes that help progress the story by offering pivotal character moments through song. When the film needs to slow down and pull at heartstrings, it has no issue doing

so. The transition never feels awkward and the breakout into song doesn’t feel out of place. “Paciencia Y Fe” and “Finale” are two moments where the film manages to make the audience cry, but crack a smile at the end. _“In The Heights” is a rare film.

It’s an American big-budget movie that is almost entirely comprised of a Hispanic cast. It never treads away from talking about harder topics like gentrification and immigration.

There is a line in the final song that stuck out to me. “But who’s gonna notice we’re gone.” That line captures the film perfectly.

There is uncertainty about the future, but the film never focuses on the negative aspects. It focuses on the present and the potential legacy to be left behind.

SERIES REVIEW

Marvel’s ‘What If...?’ tackles alternate futures MICHAEL FOSTER-SANDERS senior producer

Multiverses allow different paths and outcomes to historical events that are canon in a fictional world such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What if the villain Erik Killmonger was seen as a hero instead of a villain? What if Dr. Strange’s crash affected him emotionally instead of physically? These hypothetical questions are answered in Marvel’s “What If…?” animated series for the Disney Plus streaming service.

Marvel Comics started the “What if” concept in 1977, and had 13 volumes and numerous standalone books.

To bring that idea to the small screen in an anthology format is genius because it brings the viewer into the world with the cast from the movies, keeping its authenticity.

Bringing back some of the actors who played these characters in the movies will make those familiar with the characters light up inside like a parade of light stour, delivering the fan service Marvel is known for.

The art style used for the series is inspired by the late magazine illustrator J.C Leyendecker who styled publication covers from 1896-1950, giving the show a dreamy feel when it covers events before the catalyst that alters the future. Even when the change happens, the style works because of the haze-like feeling of being blindsided by a powerful force and causing a concussion.

Each story in the “What If” series is awesome and diverse

but there are four stories that will command the viewer’s attention.

“What if T’Challa Became a StarLord?” shows a child that is the Prince of Wakanda, whose inquisitive and adventurous nature gets him kidnapped by extraterrestrials. Instead of becoming the hero Black Panther, he becomes a space pirate. Fans of Chadwick Boseman may tear up, since this is one of his final roles before he died.

“Zombie” has a horror tale taste to it. Having some of Earth’s mightiest heroes, The Avengers, spread a virus causing a zombie apocalypse across the globe is a twist that is refreshing because it’s going to take the teamwork of every last superhero remaining to stop the team from destroying any and everything left on planet earth.

The villain Killmonger becomes a hero with his episode by saving Tony Stark. Does this cause Killmonger to change his philosophy on freeing the oppressed around the globe through violence and uprisings, or gives him more tools to achieve his quest now being aligned with stark?

Dr. Strange not being able to accept the love of his life dying will tug at the heart strings of viewers. This episode shows The Sorcerer Supreme breaking every mystical law to bring the love of his life back.

Now for the bad stuff. After being hooked like a fish, the audience has to wait for season 2 to this amazing show. Grab yourself a Disney Plus subscription or borrow a friend’s and strap in for these amazing tales.

Courtesy of Disney

Steve Rogers doesn’t become Captain America in this universe. Instead, Peggy Carter gets the shield.

OPINION

Wednesday, September 22, 2021 • 5

EDITORIAL

Cultural celebrations can help educate others Cultural celebrations are absolutely necessary.

Exposure to other cultures and heritages can provide a differing worldview, allowing someone to take a moment to see things through the eyes of another person.

Months that celebrate minority groups educate outsiders on the experiences of a certain ethnicity.

From food, attire and traditions, these celebrations offer a muchneeded bit of education. With this education, people can get out of their comfort zone and discuss topics that they might have not had too much knowledge of before.

Especially when it comes to discussing more controversial aspects of history.

For example, Black History Month takes time to highlight less divisive pieces of the culture like food but also puts a spotlight on things like segregation and slavery.

These topics can be difficult to talk about. They hold a relentless amount of weight to them. As much as people don’t want to spend time thinking about something so abhorrent, it’s always good to reflect on the advancements made as a society.

Most of the time, learning something new can be beneficial.

Especially in the case of cultural celebrations. It’s great to know more about various cultures because it could potentially teach someone how to be more tolerant or give someone a new understanding of how and why things are done in a certain way.

Hispanic Heritage Month began Sept. 15, and there are lots of events scheduled that will cover

Amber Davis/The Collegian

a lot of different subjects pertaining to the culture. Some events will have speakers sharing their perspectives on being a person of color in a professional environment, and others will have food spread out. Take this month to learn more about Hispanic culture, and find ways to apply the new knowledge to something beneficial. Even to those that classify as Hispanic,

there is always more to be learned.

Indigenous people day is also approaching Oct. 11. The same methodology should be applied there. Learn about the history, the food and the people. Also, take the time to read about the adversity they’ve had to overcome and how they’re still trying to overcome it.

A learning experience should never be something to take lightly.

Taking a month to celebrate a specific culture is a beautiful thing.

It can be argued that a month isn’t enough. There are so many things to cover in such a short period.

Cultural holidays should also be something more widely celebrated in the U.S. Mexico’s independence day was Sept. 16, but the main Mexican holiday observed is Cinco de Mayo. Rosh Hashanah,

Jewish new year, is Sept. 8, but it isn’t a mainstream holiday. All of these should be celebrated with the same amount of respect and attention as Christmas.

America is a diverse country housing people from all around the world. Nobody should have to leave pieces of their tradition behind to appease others. It’s important to continuously spotlight new cultures.

It’s far too often that marginalized communities feel as if they’re getting pushed aside, ignored by a huge chunk of society. These celebrations are the way to tell them that they’re being heard, given a chance to teach others about themselves. It’s also a chance to show that the adversity they’re going through or have gone through is being recognized. Everyone will never be satisfied, but it’s worth giving everyone a shot to show off their culture.

Getting a more enriching, deeper understanding of someone or something can lead to more opportunities. Ongoing discussions on the matter can be made, and there could also be some tasty food involved. Not only that, but the person will thank you for letting them discuss their culture.

Hispanic Heritage Month is as good of a time to start as any. Sit down with colleagues, professors or friends and ask them about their traditions. Most of the time, they’ll be glad to share it with someone eager to learn more about it.

Cultural celebrations are rewarding. It amplifies the voice of those who think they have none.

VIEWPOINTS

Hispanic representation in media doesn’t do us justice

JOSE ROMERO editor-in-chief

If all people knew about Hispanics was gathered from shows and movies, then the assumption would be that we’re gangbangers, cartel members or Rob Schneider in brownface.

It’s so rare to watch a mainstream American film portray a Hispanic as a kind, sympathetic character. Instead, it chooses to show us as vile criminals that will do anything for the right price. If there’s a Hispanic character in a film, that means they’re going to be comedic relief or the antagonist. There’s rarely a middle ground.

For once, I’d like the kindness in my culture to be shown rather than image-damaging stereotypes. It sends the wrong message when Hispanics in media have guns tucked into their belt and are abrasive without instigation. The whole race has been typecast instead of an individual actor.

Met Gala highlights hypocrisy of rich, specifically elected official

But, it’s not all bad. There have been quite a bit of recent media that has turned the tide of this narrative.

“The Mandalorian” stars the ChileanAmerican actor Pedro Pascal as a dope cowboy bounty hunter from space. He’s not a Hispanic bounty hunter. He’s a bounty hunter that happens to be Hispanic. His ethnicity doesn’t shove him into a box which is how it should be. I’m hoping Pascal has started a trend for Hispanic actors.

This year saw the release of “In The Heights,” a musical that’s a love letter to Puerto Rican and Hispanic culture. No gangs, violence or dangerous stereotypes. It portrayed the beauty of my culture, like the importance of family. It’s hard to describe how hard I was grinning after coming out of the theater because of the positive portrayal of my people.

Seeing a movie like “In The Heights” exist gives me hope. Hope that my little brother will grow up with media that shows him to be proud of who he is. I can’t wait to watch the first big Hispanic lead superhero film.

Looking at you, Blue Beetle and Ghost Rider.

It would be disingenuous to say that a character’s racial identity isn’t necessary to portray. Some movies have it as a theme or an integral plot point, and that can be very important for informing audiences of minority struggles. My argument is that it doesn’t need to be the only character trait.

Sometimes I question why a Hispanic can’t go on an adventure to a fantasy land and fight dragons without having to justify why they’re there.

JUAN SALINAS II campus editor

The Met Gala is where ultra-wealthy celebrities, fashion designers and billionaires play dress-up for their egos. If you have an extra $35,000 to burn, you could attend.

Every year there is a tone-deaf attempt of activism from a celebrity. But this year, a U.S. representative decided it was her time in the spotlight.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore a white dress that had “tax the rich” in big red lettering across her dress. She received praise for being quote, unquote, “brave” for spreading awareness and bringing populist ideas to the mainstream.

As if Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign didn’t exist.

Outside the event, Black Lives Matter demonstrators were protesting the death of Mike Rosado, while AOC sat on a comfortable chair inside, sipping away at expensive wine.

She is a U.S. representative of New York’s 14th congressional district. Back in

2018, she upset incumbent Joe Crowley, the fourth rank House Democrat at the time.

A potential Speaker of the House candidate was unseated by a Hispanic woman that never ran before and was outspent by $3,054,370. She was the first of four women to be elected that ran on progressive policies and promised to shake up Washington, D.C., becoming The Squad, a progressive caucus of the democratic party.

AOC began her time in office with a splash by protesting with climate activists outside of Nancy Pelosi’s office, demanding direct action to fight climate change. She also proposed the Green New Deal, a congressional resolution that lays out a grand plan for tackling climate change.

But after some time, The Squad has become nothing more than virtue-signaling politicians. She tweeted about how we should have Medicare for all, raise upperclass taxes, more COVID relief and a $15 minimum wage while having the power to apply pressure to the Biden administration to do so. But, The Squad refused to do anything, for it would upset the Democratic Party and threaten their chances of being accepted into the elite.

The progressive caucus could change strategies and take a page out of the tea party playbook and refuse to vote for any Biden administration agendas until progressive legislatures are passed or put up for a vote.

Unfortunately, they care more about being celebrities than actually making a change.

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ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Camille Compton

Professional Staff PRODUCTION MANAGER Stacy Luecker

ADVISERS Chris Whitley • Jocelyn Tatum

FEATURE

6 • Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Hispanic Artists Using culture as inspiration for artistry Artistic expression is a giant part of Hispanic culture. Art is a form of communication, telling a story about the artists’ experiences. Whether it’s being used to illustrate hardships or just to share what’s going on in their minds, these Hispanic artists use the medium to represent themselves and how they see the world. Each one takes a different approach when it comes to demonstrating their distinctive style. Some are more abstract and use colors liberally, while others ensure the illustrations are as realistic as possible.

Fernando Llort

Fernando Llort Choussy is often attributed to creating El Salvador’s art style. He traveled and studied art all around the world and returned to El Salvador with a purpose. He used his art to paint in a town called La Palma, inspiring the town to cover its walls all over with vibrant murals, using

Llort’s Mayan-inspired style. During El Salvador’s civil war, he had to leave La Palma, but his art was continuously displayed in San Salvador. Even though he died in 2018, his art has left too large of an impact on El Salvador for him to be forgotten. His art can be seen in museums around the world.

Carmen Lomas Garza

Carmen Lomas Garza is an artist inspired by her surroundings. She is a Mexican-American that uses her life and the life of others as a reference for her paintings. One painting could be a Mexican family making tamales together in the kitchen, then another is a fight outside of a club. Her objective is to

represent Hispanic culture as accurately as possible, hoping to garner appreciation for it. Another thing she likes to do with her art is educating outsiders who may not have much experience with the culture. She began illustrating at 13 and was heavily inspired by the Chicano Movement in the ‘60s.

Belén Jaramillo

Belén Jaramillo, also known as Bln Bike, graduated in her home country, Ecuador, with a degree in graphic design.

She is a more contemporary artist but has grown in popularity quite quickly.

She’s primarily known for her work in the street art scene, creating massive murals brimming with detail. She has

murals plastered on walls in different places around Ecuador. Her work is quite versatile as well and can be seen in things from magazines to video games. Her art pieces are displayed in multiple countries including Brazil, Colombia and Argentina.

She also uploads sketches and works in progress art to Instagram, @blnbike.

Julio Aguilera

Julio Aguilera was raised in a poor neighborhood in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Aguilera is multi-talented since he’s an accomplished artist and has a black belt in Choy Lay Fut Kung-Fu. For a while, he competed in martial arts tournaments in various countries like China and the Philippines. After spending some time

traveling the world, he retired and moved to New York. Once he moved to the U.S., he fully committed to becoming an artist. The beginning of his art career was lukewarm since one of his first exhibitions in California wasn’t received well, but he didn’t quit.

Afterward, his shows began selling out in Spain, Argentina and Venezuela.

Illustration by Amber Davis/The Collegian