The Thai Mexican Gangsters an Example of Cultural Appropriation.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Blog Post #1: Read about “Bangkok’s ‘Mexican’ Gangsters”, post your response, & comment on
another student’s Blog Post.
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/03/21/photo-essay-bangkoks-mexican-gangsters

Questions:

(1) How are Thai gangsters an example of cultural appropriation of another subculture? 

(2) What do we learn about Thai and Mexican subcultures from this article & video within the article?

Answers: 

(1) The Bangkok’s Mexican Gangsters are an example of cultural appropriation of another subculture, because they use Mexican Cholo’s  stuff without knowing the real meaning, they don’t know how hard, violent, corrupt, and dangerous that is the Cholo’s Life, just because the clothes and the rings and other jewelry are “cool”, they decide to use it, and according to what the interview says “the Thai obsession with these groups is simply an appreciation of their aesthetic.”, and of course the style is a little weird but what matters is the Cholo attitude that they don’t  have, and what impressed me is the wife of a member inside the gang, that authorize him to do things like putting a tattoo in his body, or like the way they use to express their toughness, for example the member of One Pain Balcony gang rapped his original song called “Fuck the Popo”, so I start to think a rap battle between “The Thai Mexican Gangsters” and “The Wachiturros”, that will make me laugh for a hundred years!

(2) We do have to be careful of what we are using, and we must know, because some things have a cultural meaning that we don’t know, and some people know, and they will judge us for the meaning of our stuff and don’t for how cool is, so my invitation could be to think before wear, and if we know what we are using, the more you know, the better you will discuss about, and remember to practice the meaning you decide to wear and not just learn, you can't know that you are supporting the Che Guevara ideals and in your other side, you begin to support capitalism ideals by buying everything you want.