Primary Questions:

• What is culture?

• How is language a part of culture? 

• What are other important dimensions of culture that unite people? 

• Why is it important to represent cultures accurately in movies? Is it possible to represent cultures accurately in movies?

• Who gets to claim ‘authenticity?’

Additional Questions:

• Does a country have (authentic) one culture? Why or why not?

• How might a country’s culture or cultures be different from more general identities like Latinx?

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The first two timestamps are based on the Encanto streaming version on Disney+. The third and fourth clips are from videos on YouTube. Additionally, there is an audio clip from NPR.

• Clip 1: 5:26-8:48

• Clip 2: 14:24- 16:52 

• Clip 3: Colombia, Mi Encanto 

  • 0:00-2:53 

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLuDpshta9o

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Primary Source(s): 

• Discover Colombia: 5:00-7:35 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eptw864cHcM

• Audio Clip: NPR (Del Barco, 2021): 1:52-5:33 - https://www.npr.org/2021/11/24/1059041732/lin-manuel-miranda-and-disney-filmmakers-traveled-colombia-to-prepare-for-encant

Secondary Source(s):

• Weber, V. (2021). Mirabel’s discovery. Random House. 

Primary Questions:

• What cultural legacies have Latinx people cultivated across the United States and world?

• How do the characters experience conflict with their cultural roots as they chase their dreams?

Additional Questions:

• Who is Latinx? Who is not? Do you agree with the term? Any alternatives?

• What is Latinidad?

• Has Latinidad contented with colorism, anti-Blackness, and anti-Indinguety?

• What role does/n't the media play in expanding the idea of Latinidad?

--

The lesson highlights clips and analysis from In the Heights.The movie is available on DVD, and as of publication, streaming on HBO Max. 

• Clip #1: (2:40-5:30)

• Clip #2: (3 days until Blackout: 11:14 - 51:14)

• Clip #3: (51:14-1:30:14)

• Movie Finish: (1:30:14 - 2:15:01)

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Primary Source(s): 

• Getty Images. (n.d.). Washington Heights stock photos, High-res pictures, and images. https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/washington-heights

• Jones, Z. C. (2021, June 16). Lin-Manuel Miranda addresses “In the Heights” colorism controversy. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/in-the-heights-lin-manuel-miranda-apologizes-colorism-controversy/

• The Root. (2021, June 9). Let’s talk about In the Heights and the erasure of dark-skinned Afro-Latinx folks. The Root. https://www.theroot.com/lets-talk-about-in-the-heights-and-the-erasure-of-dark-1847064126

Secondary Source(s): 

• Alcorn, C. (2020, September 10). Hollywood films starring Latinos are still rare, new study finds. CNN Business. https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/business/hollywood-diversity-study-latinos/index.html

• Rodriguez, A. (2019, June 29). Latina, Latino, Latinx vs. Hispanic: What the words mean. USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/29/latina-latino-latinx-hispanic-what-do-they-mean/1596501001/

• TEDx Talks (Director). (2017, April 10). What being Hispanic and Latinx means in the United States. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1A4Vsh5Qas

• The Root (Director). (2019, September 27). Breaking down the Anti-Blackness of Latinidad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Erdq-xhR8M

Primary Questions:

• How does Gun Hill Road depict the intersections of Latinx and transgender identities?

• What is toxic masculinity and how does it relate to Gun Hill Road?

  • What is machismo and how might it relate to Enrique? Where do Enrique’s ideas of manhood come from? Do you agree with them?

• What factors do you believe contribute to Enrique’s perception of the LGBTQ+ community? How are these answers challenged when thinking about Angie and her perception of Vanessa?

• What is the lasting significance of this film? Are the representations of Enrique and Vanessa’s family dynamics accurate?

Additional Questions:

• What are gender norms? How do gender norms affect Vanessa and how she presents?

• Are gender norms harmful or empowering?

• How does Vanessa’s relationship with her mother differ from her father’s? Why?

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Gun Hill Road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YHrxaLxr7c

Although teachers may elect to watch the entire film, these four film clips can help drive the lesson. Because of the general content of the film, we highly advise teachers to preview the movie and clips before starting the lesson.  

• Clip 1: 0:31:20-0:33:30

Late at night, Enrique (the father) catches Vanessa (referred to as Michael) returning home from her boyfriend’s house. This is the first time Enrique sees Vanessa and violently rejects her transgender identity. Earlier that day, Vanessa styled her hair to appear more feminine. Enrique forces her to the bathroom and locks Angie (the mother) out, preventing her from helping Vanessa. He then begins cutting off Vanessa’s hair. Vanessa is seen crying throughout the entire scene, as Enrique justifies his actions as love.

• Clip 2: 0:47:20-0:49:47

Enrique comes home to find Vanessa and Angela (the mother) dancing in the living room to Spanish music. Enrique asks Vanessa if he can dance with Angela instead, and the two of them share a nice moment. Enrique then reveals a gift he purchased for Vanessa, despite being let go from his job. Afterward, Enrique tries to talk to a hesitant and untrusting Vanessa. He thanks her for watching over the family while he was in prison. Vanessa, however, does not seem to respond to his attempt at bonding, likely due to his treatment of her in the previous clip.

• Clip 3: 59:30-1:03:40

After returning home from a parent-teacher meeting, Enrique finds Vanessa’s hidden box of women’s clothing. He blames Angela for Vanessa’s desire to transition and alludes to the idea that something happened while he was in jail. The scene cuts to Vanessa preparing for a slam poetry event. She decides to present masculine for her performance and delivers a poem about her desire to be accepted by her family, especially Enrique.

• Clip 4: 1:16:03-END

Enrique goes to Hector’s (Angela’s new boyfriend) house to find Vanessa and try to bring her home. Vanessa has run away because Enrique forced her to have sex with a prostitute, hoping it would cause him to become heterosexual. Vanessa appears distraught at the sight of her father and says nothing to him. She decides to return home, to find that Enrique did not come back that night. When Enrique tries to return to their apartment in the morning, he is caught by his parole officer and is presumably sent back to prison, unable to fully resolve the conflict between him and his family.

---

Primary Source(s): 

• Gerber (2019):

https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-ln-latina-transgender-espanol-support-group-asylum/

• Reyes (2015):

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/transgender-latinos-fight-equality-n420316

Secondary Source: 

• Astor (2019):

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/us/transgender-women-killed.html 

• Salam (2019):

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/22/us/toxic-masculinity.html

• Torres et al. (2002):

https://doi.org/10.1037/0002-9432.72.2.163

• Valenciano (2014):

https://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1061&context=edissertations_sp2

• Villegas (2019):

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/23/world/americas/where-machismo-is-entrenched-focus-moves-to-the-trenches.html 

Primary Questions:

• What challenges do workers face in trying to create more equitable work environments?

• Why would people strike? When should they?

Additional Questions:

• What rights do workers have?

• Why might people accuse labor unions of communism?

• What is the role of women in labor activism?

• What are current examples of labor activism and unions?

• What are company stores and how do they impact employer/employee relations?

--

Salt of the Earth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE1oKQCwwo4

Links or timestamp to Film Clip(s): 

• Clip 1 (16:24 - 20:18)

• Clip 2 (24:50 – 25:35)

• Clip 3 (25:35 - 25:45)

• Clip 4 (43:15 - 44:17)

• Clip 5 (44:17 - 45:20)

• Clip 6 (45:42 – 46:16)

• Clip 7 (53:48 - 55:06)

• Clip 8 (48:10 - 50:35)

• Clip 9 (1:21:45 - 1:23:12)

• Clip 10 (1:23:20 - 1:28:12)

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Primary Source(s): 

• Store Pay Is Our Ruin”: The Tyranny of the Company Store (Ohio Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1878): 

https://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5751/

Secondary Source(s): 

• Amazon Workers’ Union Victory Upheld (Dastin, 2023): https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/amazon-workers-union-victory-upheld-by-us-labor-board-director-2023-01-12/

• And They Will Inherit It (Quevedo, 2022): (13:42 - 16:27) https://www.latinousa.org/2022/07/29/inherit/

• Associated Press News Hub - Strikes: https://apnews.com/hub/strikes