Analyzing the Empowerment and Representation of Latinas/os/x in Selena

The biographical film Selena is an enthralling look into the illustrious rise of the iconic singer, but it is also a deeper look into the vibrant lives of Latinas and their families. The film provides insight into the dynamics of Latino/a/x families, machismo, and the struggles that Mexican-Americans face.

In the 1997 movie Jennifer Lopez portrays Selena Quintanilla-Perez. Lopez’s performance was captivating and can be attributed to her many similarities to Selena. Lopez has extensive singing and stage performance experience, as well as being Latina herself. Her successful portrayal of the character and similarities to Selena contribute to the beauty that is Selena’s character in the film.

Selena is portrayed as a well-rounded, driven, gifted, and family-oriented Latina woman. A review by Roger Ebert notes the lead actress’ performance as the high point of the film, “‘Selena’ is smart in not letting the singer’s death dominate the story of her life. The film succeeds, through Lopez’s performance, in evoking the magic of a sweet and talented young woman,” Ebert said.

From the beginning of the film, the movie investigates the struggles and joys of Selena’s life, many of which are tied to her family, which she has a strong relationship with. Her siblings are her back up band, her father is her manager, and her mother accompanies the family on their tours. This unity among the family members is reflective of the concept of familismo, which is the concept of Latino/a/x families’ loyalty and dedication to one another. 

The family is such a crucial aspect of the film and it shows the relevance of family in the star’s life. The way familismo is shown is accurate not only to how the pop star got along with her family, but how Latinas behave with their parents and siblings.

Professor Kristin Moran states in a 2016 journal article about Latino families being depicted in the media that they, “are described as more collectivist their attitudes and behavior, as demonstrated by their attentiveness to extended family members (familismo) as well as their desire to please elders by showing respect and deference.” Selena and her family had a great bond, and the film does a great job at showing this beautiful aspect of Latino/a/x life.

Another interesting aspect of the film is its glimpse into the idea of machismo. This is seen mostly in the depiction of Selena’s lead guitarist and later husband, Chris Perez and father, Abraham. The interesting portrayal of machismo comes from Abraham’s perspective of Chris. He generalizes him as a tough rock star, when really Chris is calm and collected and genuinely cares about Selena. This dynamic shows the internal conflict amongst Latinos pertaining to machismo.

Machismo can be understood in many different ways, but one definition of it is “men displaying a hyper-masculinity that thrives on power and domination and is threatened by weakness.” Machismo is very relevant in the Latino community because it is often an expectation held amongst Latino men that they need to be tough and uncaring. Selena’s father clearly holds this expectation in the movie, because he looks past Chris’ calm and positive nature to fit his own preconceptions. Abraham himself also exhibits some machismo behaviors when he tries to control Selena’s future, and when he loses his temper at her and Chris when he finds out that they are seeing each other.

Another interesting plot point that is explored in Selena is the impact of being Mexican-American on Selena’s life. There are many prejudices and discriminations that Mexican-Americans must break through to succeed in America, and they are only heightened for a famous pop star. This is mentioned in a movie review by James Berardinelli, where he said “one of the most fascinating aspects of Selena is how it deals with culture clashes. At one point, Abraham points out to his daughter that for her to be accepted on both sides of the border, she must be ‘more Mexican than most Mexicans’ and ‘more American than most Americans.'”

Selena faces the pressure of needing to speak Spanish and English fluently, and although she is Mexican, she grew up in America speaking only English. Selena pushed through this and learned to sing in Spanish and honed her speaking skills in the language, and she did it beautifully. After all, almost all her albums are in Spanish. She became adept in both American and Mexican culture and created her own style through it, which is one of the things that made her so likable among her fans.   

The film Selena is a rich tapestry exploring many themes of Latina/o/x life. It is much more than a biopic, but it is still a beautiful depiction of one of the world’s greatest Latina music stars.

Natalie Mackay a senior Spanish and English double major at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) contributed this article to Noticiero Móvil.

This commentary is part of the “Latinos in the Eyes of the Media” special series. In this section, Noticiero Móvil publishes pieces by UNR students that dive into films and television shows in which Latino characters, culture and norms are portrayed. The goal is to explore and illuminate how a lack of Latino representation in the media continues to promote some of the discriminatory and stereotypical practices that affect Latinos to this day in the U.S.