Make sure you respond to this two posts engaging as to what your thoughts are on the post they have written.Five sentences of each please write your own wordsrespond and write your opinion about their posts do you agree or not?post 1: I do think that there has been a large increase of Latino talent in film, television, and theater. More then ever we have seen actresses and actors play leading roles. However, the issue is not with the exposure of Latino's in media, but more of the stereotyped images they are given. Although some of these Latino's were born in America, they are subjected to the typical stereotypical role that Latinos have always been given. In order for there to be a reasonable balance, I think that actors and actresses need to expand their roles. Instead of playing roles typically cast to Latino's play in roles that should by an American. This is because, in the end, Americans are a variety of people. A typical American role should not always have to be played by a Caucasian actor or actress. Especially having to deal with Southern California, where a majority of people are Latino, roles of these characters should be played by Latinos. American culture should not be represented solely by Caucasian people because that would be a complete misinterpretation. America is made up of all different types of people. That is what makes our country so great. In order to be fair, our media should be representative of the diversity that is present in the US. post 2:Being a third generation Mexican-American myself, I’ve seen integration first hand from when I was young until now and listening to my parents and especially grandparents speak about how things were so different in the past. There has been big breakthroughs in the entertainment industry than ever before with a great deal of Latino actors and actresses as well as Latino music artists. I still feel there is a lot of ground to be covered in this industry. There is by no means a reasonable balance with Latino actors or any other non white race for that matter. I think last years hash tag at the Oscars (#OscarsSoWhite) speaks volumes of where we are in the entertainment industry and that transcends into our culture overall. I think living in Socal gives us more opportunities to be exposed to the beauties of Latino culture like New York, Miami, New York, and even Denver, but as a whole I think there is a huge part of this country that is oblivious to the impact of what Latinos have and are continuing to bring to the entertainment industry. With actors like Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, and director Guillermo Del Toro, there is a lot of Latino exposure going on but I still think the roles are exclusive to stereotypes and I think that bridge still needs to be crossed with all cultures in the front of cinema and theatre.

Hello all, I hope this note finds you well! This week we are looking at an overview of Latino Theatre and the stories of this culturally diverse group from many different parts of the world. You have watched the lecture session with Luis Valdez as he discussed his own path to his career in the Theatre and how the power of storytelling helped pull him from the life he may have lived or was expected to live. What is amazing to me about his journey is his conversation about the power of Art and how his Art shaped his politics and his politics shaped his Art. His work in the last 40 years has been tremendous in furthering Mexican or Chicano culture making huge strides with people like Cesar Chavez and other Chicano leaders in breaking down discrimination with all so called Latino cultures and the racism that was the norm in that day. The term Latino from the Websters is: La·ti·no - noun \lə-ˈtē-(ˌ)nō\: a person who was born or lives in South America, Central America, or Mexico or a person in the U.S. whose family is originally from South America, Central America, or MexicoThis title covers a wide rages of cultures, social identities, foods and regional places where this wide and dynamic demographic lives. Mexican, Cuban, Spanish, Puerto Rico, Central American countries and South American countries all can fall under this very general covering of Latino. This terms does no real justice to the description and understanding of what the true nature of Latino Theatre is. In fact there is an on going debate if the term really is the best one to describe the vast array of cultures and difference that society generally ascribes to this label. Of course even the use of the label LATINO insights debate as some feel it could be a marginalizing term. You heard Luis Valdez express his own angst and problems with the "Latino" label. It would be hard to put Latino Theatre into a single definition since there are so many different people groups, struggles, triumphs, tragedies and histories that can be told in this genre.Latino Theatre deals with many of the general issues that we have discussed with other topics that the theatre deals with crime, poverty, immigration, the limited social ladder, racism, religion and paternal culture pressures that cause a great deal of angst for the children of immigrants who are looking to assimilate into a modern American society.Here is Southern California we have a particular relationship with Latino culture and how we see this played out in politics and local governance. In southern California we see Chicano Theatre that is more specifically from the Mexican heritage and a Mexican P.O.V. This makes sense since California has such a symbiotic relationship with our bordering nation Mexico. We see the on going battles for driver’s licenses, fair pay, immigration status, poverty, and a farming and service culture that tends have a second class citizen kind of P.O.V. wrapped up around it. Just look at the recent movie about Cesar Chaves and his life in central California in the 60’s fighting for immigrant rights. That fight continues in many ways today not only in the growing fields of the great state of California, but in the hotels and motels, the lawns and gardens, the restaurants and service jobs where our hard working Latino friends are working long hours and deserve to be treated just as well as anyone else for the work they do. You have seen recently in the news about large groups of children from numerous Central American countries fleeing their homes to seek out lives here in the U.S. as nearby as Murrieta Ca. We see mixtures of xenophobia, political positioning, and questions about health concerns coming into the larger debate from those that are not as convinced about immigration and its effective enforcement. The issues facing our nation and the individuals trying to access the prosperity and security of our nation is an ongoing struggle and so many of these stories have yet to be told. Your assignment is in three parts but two pages long:1. The Theatre Review A. I would like you to research a major newspaper from a major city and find a professional Theatre to review for. The review should be on a production of your choosing by a Latino/a Playwright. Dealing with topics that would be important to one of our various and divers Latino communities.B. It can be a period or present day play. C. The review should be no more than five years old. D. Please copy and paste the review you choose into the assignment with citation. E. Write a 1 page reaction to this review and the play. - A brief biography of the playwright and why they wrote the play (you may need to do some follow up research about the playwright) - What are the Issues that this playwright is trying to raise? - Did the reviewer feel as though this was strong production and that the messages were conveyed? - Would you watch this play or any other play from this Playwright? Why or why Not? 2. Watch Your Movie ChoiceA. Choose a film to watch that was written OR directed by a Latino/a. (This can certainly be a Luis Valdez film)B. This film should also have the protagonist be a "Latino" man or woman .D. Be sure to choose a movie that wrestles in some way with a topic(s) related to "Latino" cultural and societal topics.3. Write a Review for your film. A. With the review that you researched as a template, write a 1-2 page review for your chosen film.B. Give us your opinion of the acting and storytelling in the manner that you read other reviewers analyzing the play's that they watched. C. Discuss the relevant "Latino" issues that were raised by the film, its writer and character(s)D. Was the filmmaker, writer and actors successful? Why or why not?THIS ASSIGNMENT IS TO BE PRINTED AND TURNED IN TO CLASS ON MONDAY 10/31YOU ASSIGNMENT SHOULD BE 2-3 PAGES LONG DOUBLE SPACED.

This week we are looking at an overview of Women in Theatre, women playwrights and the work that they and other female writers are now doing as we see ourselves in an age where the relationship between men and women and how society views them have never been closer. However, there is still a gap that remains with the role and influence of women in politics, religion, business and entertainment. The American view of the "Ideal Woman" has changed in the last 100 years and even more drastically in the last 40 years since the 1970's when the voices of women and the issues that directly affected them began to get heard in stronger way. Remember that is it still less then 100 years since women have had the right to vote in America. Only since the 60's that women have been allowed their own credit credits cards separate from their husbands just to name a few examples..... Times have changed and much of that is with the voices of women writing about women and the trials and struggles they face. We have seen from film to T.V. to the theatrical stage a huge upsurge of female-centric storytelling and even, perhaps, a future female president!I believe this is a fabulous development!!!!! I think it safe to say that this class has a general working familiarity with some of the issues that would be important to women particularly including: fair pay, parenting, working as a professional, women's rights politically, education, the "Glass Ceiling", abortion rights, health concerns, sexual harassment in the work place, the "War on Women" and your opinions about how women are used as political opportunities. Any feeling about Donald Trump and his terrible statements about women in our ongoing presidential campaign season? ...etc. With your Partner from class: Choose one female playwright from this small list and do further research on that playwright. This is a very short list of some very important female playwrights over the last 100 years. (This is not a comprehensive list)______________________________Topics of discussion would be:The playwright’s history and background.How they came into being a playwright?You can discuss topics and themes that are/were important to the playwright and how being a woman influenced their Art in a positive or negative way. The nature of the playwrights world and society in terms political, social and religious view of the playwrights time and era with respect to women’s issues that may have influence their art and storytelling. What impact did the playwright have on the overall public and political discourse about topics that are considered women’s issues? Was it positive or negativeAwards, recognition or infamy that they may have received as a result of their work.Would you like to watch a play by this playwright? Why or why not? Each person from your group should include your specific answer here.Your list to choose from: Sarah RuhlKatori HallPaula VogelWendy WassersteinSusan-Lori ParksLillian HellmanSarah KaneCaryl ChurchillMarsha NormanBeth HenleyMaya AngelouLorraine Vivian HansberryRebecca GillmanLynn NottageKathryn BigelowShonda RhimesLinda Bloodworth-ThomasonYour paper should be a minimum of three pages double spaced. You may include some pictures with your research. Proper formatting and spelling.Be sure to include both names on your research paper. This will be due a week from today (Wednesday 11/2/16)I would choose kathryn bigelow