Without a Name - Latino Representation in Fukunaga's Sin Nombre

Seminar Paper , 2010 , 7 Pages , Grade: B+

American Studies - Comparative Literature

This paper discusses the film Sin Nombre (2009), directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, in relation to the portrayal of Latinos/as, and whether this film can be considered a piece of the “Culture Industry.” For the analysis of the movie, I apply the concepts discussed in class. Also, I compare this motion picture with some of the themes which Elana Zilberg describes in her essay “Fools Banished from the Kingdom: Remapping Geographies of Gang Violence between the Americas (Los Angeles and San Salvador)”.
The plot of this “fusion of a road movie, gangster epic[,] [w]estern and tragic romance” (Wood 1) is set in Latin America. It narrates the journey of Sayra, who is the main character and is played by Paulina Gaitán, going from Honduras to New Jersey. She travels with her uncle and father—the latter has been recently deported from the US. The purpose of the trip is to join their family in the U.S. where she hopes to be able to lead a better life.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Without Name – Latino/a Immigration in Fukunaga's Sin Nombre
• Chapter 1: Introduction
  • Sin Nombre as a "Fusion of a Road Movie, Gangster Epic, Western and Tragic Romance"
  • Sayra's Journey from Honduras to New Jersey
  • El Casper's Encounter with Sayra and the "Mara Salvatrucha Brotherhood"
  • The Theme of "No Name" and Undocumented Immigration
• Chapter 2: The Complex Portrayal of Gang Members
  • The "Humanity" of the Maras
  • Lil'Mago: A Loving Father and a Ruthless Leader
  • Smiley: Searching for Love and Support
  • El Casper's Escape and the Gang's "Unforgiving Code of Conduct"
• Chapter 3: Sayra's Journey and the Reframing of Latino/a Stereotypes
  • Sayra's Transformation from Passive Follower to Active Agent
  • The Role of Gender and Agency in Sayra's Story
  • Diestro-Dópido's Perspective on the Respectful Construction of Characters
• Chapter 4: Sin Nombre's Departure from Mainstream Cinema
  • Challenging Stereotypes and Embracing Authenticity
  • The Significance of Latino Actors and the Importance of Real-Life Experiences
  • Fukunaga's Commitment to Realism and the Role of Research
• Chapter 5: Applying Theoretical Concepts to Sin Nombre
  • Stuart Hall's Negotiating Position Category
  • Sturken and Cartwright's Encoding and Decoding Framework
  • The Concept of Re-Tropicalization and the Challenge of Stereotypes
• Chapter 6: Transnational Identity and the Realities of Immigration
  • Syrah's Family and the Experience of Living Between Two Cultures
  • The Impact of US Political Decisions and the Rise of the Mara Salvatrucha
  • The Importance of Immigration in Contemporary American Society

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper examines Cary Joji Fukunaga's film Sin Nombre (2009) to analyze its portrayal of Latino/as and its potential role as a piece of the "Culture Industry." It draws upon theoretical concepts discussed in class and compares the film to Elana Zilberg's essay "Fools Banished from the Kingdom: Remapping Geographies of Gang Violence between the Americas (Los Angeles and San Salvador)."

• The representation of Latino/as in contemporary US cinema.
• The complex portrayal of gang culture and its impact on individuals and communities.
• The exploration of transnational identity and the challenges of immigration.
• The use of theoretical frameworks to analyze film representation and its impact on audiences.
• The role of authenticity in film making and the importance of real-life experiences.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1: This chapter introduces Sin Nombre as a film that blends genres, including road movie, gangster epic, western, and tragic romance. It focuses on the journey of Sayra, a young woman traveling from Honduras to New Jersey, and her encounter with El Casper, a member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang. The chapter explores the theme of "no name" and its connection to undocumented immigration.
• Chapter 2: This chapter delves into the film's complex portrayal of gang members, showcasing their humanity alongside their violence. It examines Lil'Mago, the gang leader who is both a loving father and a ruthless criminal, and Smiley, a young member seeking love and support. The chapter highlights El Casper's decision to escape the gang and the consequences of breaking the "unforgiving code of conduct."
• Chapter 3: This chapter focuses on Sayra's journey and her transformation from a passive follower to an active agent. It analyzes how the film challenges traditional gender roles and presents a strong female character who shapes her own future. The chapter also incorporates Diestro-Dópido's perspective on the respectful construction of characters in the film.
• Chapter 4: This chapter explores how Sin Nombre departs from mainstream cinema by challenging stereotypes and embracing authenticity. It discusses the significance of using Latino actors and the importance of integrating real-life experiences into the film. The chapter emphasizes Fukunaga's commitment to realism and his extensive research.
• Chapter 5: This chapter applies theoretical concepts to Sin Nombre, including Stuart Hall's negotiating position category, Sturken and Cartwright's encoding and decoding framework, and the concept of re-tropicalization. It analyzes how the film challenges stereotypes and promotes a more nuanced understanding of Latino/a identity.
• Chapter 6: This chapter examines the theme of transnational identity and the realities of immigration through Sayra's family and their experiences living between two cultures. It discusses the impact of US political decisions on gang violence and the growing importance of immigration in contemporary American society.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The keywords and focus topics of this paper include Latino/a representation, gang culture, transnational identity, immigration, Sin Nombre, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Mara Salvatrucha, Culture Industry, encoding and decoding, re-tropicalization, authenticity, film analysis.

• College: University of Maryland University College at Adelphi
• Course: Latinos/as in U.S. Popular Culture
• Grade: B+
• Author: Jannis Rudzki-Weise (Author)
• Publication Year: 2010
• Pages: 7
• Catalog Number: V163359
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640785148
• ISBN (Book): 9783640784820
• Language: English
• Tags: Without, Name, Latino, Representation, Fukunaga, Nombre