La Bamba

1. La Bamba Authentic Culture In Lak’ech Neo-Valdezian Cyclical Time

2. Bob as the source of authentic culture • Associated with icons: motorcycle (an Indian), snake imagery, tatoo (symbolic of Jesus Christ), leather—signs of working-class masculinity. • Fusion of three characters: Pinto, Aztec Warrior and Pachuco. • Vehicle for the Southern migration: northern California, San Fernando Valley, Mexico—Similar to mythic Aztec migration from Aztlan to Tenochtitlan. • Vehicle for Authentification: language, (speaks Spanish) culture (through his Tata) music.

3. Bob as authentic culture, cont. • Agent for the rediscovery of Mexico. • Knows Spanish, resists Anglocizing Richie’s name (Valenzuela to Valens). • Problematic for three reasons: pathological relationship with women may be regarded as normal, culture is viewed as static—romanticizes folkloric aspects, and In-between”ism”(Bob) (Chicano) as deviant and pathological

4. Aspects of In Lak’ech • “Tu eres mi otro yo” You are my other me. • Bob as problematic/deviant: drugs, alcohol, abuse of women, gang affiliation, aimless and without responsibility, rebellious, envious, the “evil other.” • Richie as the good boy: school age, connected to family, responsible, shares newfound wealth, famous, conformist, likable (for mainstream audiences), clean, as a symbol for assimilation (through music and Donna). • Bob as Tezcatlipoca (Azttec/Toltec God of War and Sun), negative attributes. • Richie as Quetzalcoatl (Universal symbol of the Feathered Serpent God—renewal, rebirth, culture and spring.

5. Neo-Valdezian Cyclical Time • Richie’s nightmare of plain crash—foretells his death at the peak of his popularity. • The snake talisman: symbol of rebirth, renewal— comes to Bob before the crash • Richie’s rebirth through: association with Bob, spiritual and cultural rebirth, in the southern migration. • Richie’s rebirth occurs simultaneously with the birth of Bob’s daughter (Brenda)—Bob’s restoration. • Bob and Richie: their relationship normalizes toward the end.