I see we received a little activity in the comment section on my previous entry. An anonymous person posted a reply. Angel reciprocated, but since I’ve been posting on Loca I thought I would directly reply here this one time. See the comment section for Anonymous' full comment.

(anonymous) “Yes lets all bring “Blackface” Back too –
(pablo) I have to admit I don’t fully understand this reference to Loca. I would understand it better if Stevie applied brown paint to her face and posted her video in color, then repressed Latinas from posting their own videos. In that scenario then yes it would be offensive. However, she doesn’t do that, so we may just have to agree to disagree on this point.

(anonymous) “Everyone has their own click” –
(pablo) Yes I admit I belong to a “click”. My click is filled with artists, filmmakers, writers and performers of all colors and ethnicities. In my Latino click, I’ve meet dozens of great fine artists here in LA, but through Bullfighter’s Café I’m meeting artists from New York, Chicago, Texas, San Diego and every month my click is growing! Although I have to say there is one person that I am dedicated to, and consider a mentor. His presence is evident throughout the Café and if you want to know about this person then read Mr. Magu’s Quest. Be sure to visit mentalmenduo.org and read the mission statement too. It’s a statement I take to heart.

(anonymous) How does Stevie Ryan elevate the Latino people? –
(pablo) For the sake of brievity let me address this question as a businessman as there are many reasons. Simply, LittleLoca is controversial. Controversy sells and brings attention! Controversy is a numbers game and we need numbers. It is a fact that Loca/Stevie brings more traffic to the café than all the Latin artists combined in the café. I need these numbers so I can go to advertisers and sponsors for revenue. I need revenue to pay the bills for the server, software and living costs that are currently coming out of Angels’ and my pocket. I need revenue to hire journalists, designers, animators, photographers and filmmakers that will help me build this site into a real life cafe. As many local cultural centers are closing or struggling to find funding through grants, contributions and community support, it is Angel’s and my dream that this café become a self-reliant cultural center through our commercial efforts. Will Loca alone do all this for us? No, but it’s a start. She is just one brick, of many to come, in the long road that will pave the way to our goal.

Are there Latin artists that might bring as much traffic to our site? Yes, I hope so. We have sent out invitations to artists that we hope will generate interest and we hope to bring them to the cafe as soon as possible.

As far as elevating the Latino people, we have no delusion that Stevie or us are the saviors of Latin people. Latin people are intelligent and passionate enough to elevate themselves, we just want to build and provide an additional platform (cultural center) where they can express and display their diverse ideas. Case in point is Liza Orozco, you can read about her in the art lounge.

(anonymous) “I won’t call you sellouts” –
(pablo) You can call me anything you want because it doesn’t have any effect on my self worth. I only used the term as a means to address the issue and my position on my art. In fact, I really have no animosity towards you for the label and in truth, I appreciate your passion for Latin culture. Again I’m glad to answer your questions, because I hope it shows that there is a grand plan here. If you don’t like Loca or us then that’s fine with me. However, if you do support your culture or “real” Latina’s like Nadia Rowinsky then I hope you show it by rating her film in on theLot.com or support Christina Soto by voting for her film at the Berkeley film festival or support any other artist by purchasing their artwork. If I can get you to act on your passion then my mission is accomplished; my art, my design of the Bullfighter’s café has brought a supporter to a fellow artist and that means more to me than any negative or positive label I’m given.

(anonymous) “What is the message?” –
(pablo) Again, this is a question that I’ve tried to address in these blogs but the problem is that there is a no single answer, even Angel and I see things differently on Loca. In fact, I believe Loca brings up more questions than answers and that’s what makes it art. Loca makes us question our own beliefs, perceptions and ideals. Personally I’ve questioned my belief that I had to work twice as hard to overcome the negative reputation of the cholo subculture and my hatred for that reputation that seemed to be associated to all Chicanos. It wasn’t until I examined Loca that I realized that I resented my cousins - my family for their participation in the cholo culture! I have since come to realize that I shouldn’t resent the cholo; I should hate the conditions that enabled the cholo to exist. I should hate the lack of education, job opportunities and drugs that exists in the Latin community. You may see this a stretch but like I said, ultimately the single message is for you to personally formulate.


(anonymous) …we need a white woman to explain to Cholas "The WAY to BE?" –
(pablo) I think this question is backwards, Stevie’s intent is not to teach Latina’s, rather she is exhibiting what Cholas taught her. If you read her article in the café, she says she admired the strength of her friends. She admired their beauty. Unfortunately, what is not in the article or her video blogs are additional stories she told me about her experiences living next door and being close friends with Chicano families. Basically, Loca is a reflection of her experiences. Loca is homage to her friends that helped her get through difficult times in her youth. Loca is a tribute to her best friends (note: Her chola friend did receive a BA degree, and that’s what influenced Loca to go to college).

Believe it or not I had reservations on supporting Stevie/Loca until I asked Stevie one question. I asked Stevie, “What do your chola friends think of Loca?” She said that they loved it and to keep doing it.

Now for me, Stevie’s motivation and the blessing from her friends showed me that there was an understanding between friends, between two cultures and between two ethnicities and between women. Shockingly to myself, Stevie didn’t see Cholas as I saw them. Stevie saw beauty through her friendship with them! And likewise, Stevie’s friends saw Stevie as one of their own. They didn’t see Stevie as a white girl pretending to be one of them, rather she was accepted as a sister. They saw that Stevie had assimilated into their culture by emulating their dress and speech. They understood that Loca was not a spoof because Stevie lived their culture by growing up alongside with them in their home.

Again, this made me question my own belief that the cholo subculture should be despised. After all, here is a white woman that finds beauty in Cholas. If an “outsider “ can find beauty in chola culture then how can I resent my own. How can I resent my family? Needless to say I’ve promised myself that I am not going to hate any longer especially those from my own ethnicity, no matter of social standing. Yes, there may be traits in the chola culture that can be described as abrasive and undesirable but every person has faults. Finding beauty in perfection is easy but finding beauty in imperfection is an act of will.

(anonymous) “How can you defend Little Loca?” –
(pablo) I support Stevie/Loca because she found beauty, strength and friendship in those I only saw as outcasts. She reminds me that beauty can be found and should be found in everybody; even those that we may think don’t deserve it.

You, the reader, may still disagree with Stevie and our decision to back her, I only ask that you look at the big picture and see that Stevie is just one artist we support. In the café we currently have 25 Latin artists that we showcase but many, many more are to come. I’m sure they would appreciate your support for their efforts. Also if there is a Latina (Chola or not) talent that we should support then by all means let us know, we would be happy to meet her.

Thank you for the opportunity.
Pablo

Every negative event contains within it the seed
of an equal or greater benefit-- Napoleon Hill