Sunday, July 22, 2012

Que Gringo el Pocho



A 2010 article by an anonymous Pocho. I enjoy the reference to Selena, a scene that I've hoped would pop up on youtube. I looked it up and I'm posting it to Academia de Cruz 'cause poch[o]tec@ doesn't like embedding for some reason.
Pocho Keen's article: http://latinopm.com/opinion/voices/pocho-keen/que-gringo-el-pocho-%E2%80%93-or-que-pocho-el-gringo-1753

Naco Pocho from mun2

A Short On Naco and Pocho



http://www.mun2.tv/watch/shorts/naco-pocho
From the accompanying information on the video:
"
In the last generation, the size of the Mexican middle class and the number of Mexicans raised in the United States have grown dramatically. These demographic shifts are transforming Mexican culture on both sides of the border. The changing use of terms like “naco” (“low class”) and “pocho” (“Americanized”) reflect that evolution.

Popularized in the late 1970s by the comedian Luis de Alba, the term “naco” is commonly used to mean “low class” but to a younger generation, it can also mean “tacky cool” in a fashion similar to the U.S. hipster appropriation of trucker hats and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Similarly, the term “pocho”, which was traditionally used in Mexico as a put-down against Americans of Mexican descent, has become a point of pride to a growing number of Mexican-Americans.
The piece went live this afternoon, it is just over 12 minutes, and it  features interviews with Lalo Alcaraz (writer and cartoonist, Pocho,La Cucaracha), Xavier El Eléctrico (dancer), Gustavo Arellano (writer and editor, Ask a MexicanTaco USA), Penelope Menchaca (TV host, 12 Corazones), Alacranes Musical (musical group), Alex Rivera (music artist), Luis de Alba (actor and comedian, El Pirruris), Edoardo Chavarin (designer, NaCo), La Bronca (radio host), Larry Hernandez (music artist), 3ball MTY (musical group), Gloria Trevi (music artist), Daniel Hernandez (writer and journalist, Down and Delirious in Mexico City), Gerardo Ortiz (music artist), Los Tucanes de Tijuana (musical group), Edward James Olmos (actor and director,Stand and DeliverAmerican MeSelenaBattlestar Galactica), Montez de Durango (grupo musical), Jenni Rivera (music artist), Duelo (musical group)."