Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Week 2 - Quinceanera Project

For one of my graduate Comm. courses, I am making a documentary about quinceaneras, reflecting the changes from traditional quinces to modern quinces. I am also going to include a great deal about the influence of pop culture. I was ecstatic about this project, because I think it's something so important in our culture. The misa, the reception, the dance. The way some young girls today, don't take as much consideration into the misa, how we live in a culture of materialism, it's all about outdoing the other quinceaneras, etc. I am glad to have met some girls who actually do understand that they are becoming a woman, getting new responsibilities, no longer a little girl.

Tony and I have been interviewing people, like every day that we spend together is spent working, seeking out people for interviews. Last week, we interviewed a deacon who had a lot to share about the religious aspect and the classes he teaches to prepare the girls for their quinceaneras. Immediately afterwards, we saw some viejitas in the parking lot who I recognized, turns out they were there for a rosary. I glanced at one of their shirts and saw a picture of an eldery man I actually knew. He was the husband of my grandpa's sister, so I was glad to be there. We ended up attending the rosary and offering condolences to the family. I had done quinceanera pictures for one of the grand daughters. We saw two rows of orange; all of the grandchildren were wearing orange Longhorn t-shirts. They actually buried him in an orange collared Longhorn t-shirt and blue jeans, with a Longhorn football. We are all about UT here!
Afterwards, we went by my tio's house and visited there for awhile, then we went to eat at El Patio, my favorite Mexican restuarant in Port Lavaca! We ended up seeing some of my former students, there. So I got some interviews scheduled, and I actually ended up interviewing one of my students. It was fun; we got a lot accomplished.

Yesterday, we got a lot accomplished as well, interviewed 2 fifteen year old silly boys who were hilarious, but fun to listen to. We also interviewed Gloria, who had a great perspective about the cultural changes from her time to today. We spent a lot of time at La Michiocana, a Mexican Meat Market/Taqueria. It was nice there, being among Spanish-speaking people, and feeling how desperately I could not communicate as well, so Tony had to do most of the talking. Overall, the project has been taking up a lot of time, and my computer has not been working with the video-editing program. So that is frustrating, but I am determined to fix it! :) :)

2 comments:

mexicanmasala said...

I don't know where you are in Texas but we have La Michoacana here in Austin. I love getting queso fresco there. :-) Fiesta is my 2nd favorite store.

I never wanted a quinceanera and wish I had one. Is it a strictly catholic thing? I wonder because my daughter would probably want one, but we're no longer Catholic.

Some of the quinceaneras nowadays remind me of the MTV show "My Sweet Sixteen." TOTAL materialism and that's sad.

La Tejana - ~^^~LC said...

The Michoacana is in Victoria, TX; it's the only Mexicna Meat Market/Grocery Store/ Panaderia in town, and we are lucky to have it. The atmosphere is so cultural with the scent of fresh fruit on one side and then the aroma of freshly cooked carne on the other side.

Quinceaneras are not strictly a Catholic thing although the Catholic Church was the first to have Quinceaneras. There are diffferent religions that celebrate quinceaneras. I can send you my documentary if you like, once it is complete.

If you don't mind, maybe you can send me a private e-mail; my e-mail addy is on my profile.

Many of the quinces have lost teh true cultural meaning and become so materalistic; there is hope though, once we educate our daughters and live the faith.