#SomosElMuro

December 13, 2018 by Marlene Ramirez-Cancio

#SomosElMuro is a satirical action created collaboratively in 2017 an Artivism & Humor Lab organized by the Hemispheric Institute in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, México, with a group of 30+ artists and activists from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the US—including Fulana.

Its aim was to make visible the (then invisibilized) xenophobia and discrimination faced daily by Central American migrants and refugees in Mexico. Launched in January 2018, #Somoselmuro presents a group of ultra-right, pro-Trump’s wall Mexicans who propose to turn Mexico into a giant human border. The video and the song ask, “What part of the wall are you?” and remind you that “By doing nothing, you’re also part of the wall.”

The video went viral in October 2018 (1.2 million views in the first 2 days, 2.6 million views within the first week), as the migrant Caravan was making its way from Honduras to Mexico, when Canal 6 Honduras ripped the video and reported it as real on their Facebook platform. Honduran website El Pulso, upon finding out the video was a satirical action, interviewed a group of us to report on the project’s intentions. WNYC’s On the Media also produced a segment on #SomosElMuro and the role of satire on the internet in this day and age.

Website: http://www.somoselmuro.com.mx [for English version, switch to "English" in the main menu]
Twitter & FB: @SomosElMuroMx

Migratón México

January 25, 2018 by Marlene Ramirez-Cancio

Migratón México is a satirical project created collaboratively in 2017 an Artivism & Humor Lab organized by the Hemispheric Institute in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, México, with a group of 30+ artists and activists from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the US—including Fulana.

We launched this "Telethon for the migration industry" on December 18— International Migrants Day—to denounce the system that dehumanizes Central American migrants in Mexico, that profits from their movement, and that uses euphemisms like "rescue" (detention/arrest), "lodging centers" (detention centers), and "assisted return" (deportation) to obfuscate the violence they perpetrate on migrants.

The site is also a minefield of information, with links to reports on human rights abuses, articles on the root causes of Central American migration, and news about the violence migrants suffer in Mexico.

Website: http://www.migraton.com.mx [for English version, switch to "English" in the main menu]
Twitter & FB: @MigratonMexico
Jingle: http://migraton.com.mx/cancion/

Boricua: ¿Necesitas meditar para abrir los chakras tras el Huracán María? Ali Nodoro te ayudará a relajarte y a iluminar tu camino. #NAMASTE #MariaPR #OMSHANTI #ReirParaNoLlorar

Meditación para abrir los chakras tras el Huracán María

January 25, 2018 by Marlene Ramirez-Cancio

MEDITACIÓN: ABRIR LOS CHAKRAS TRAS EL HURACÁN MARÍA
Para lxs boricuas que tanto necesitan abrir los chakras a casi dos meses del huracán.
2017 | 08:13 min. | DV | Color

Ali Nodoro nos presenta una calmante, relajante y quizás expurgante meditación guiada para abrir los chakras tras el Huracán María, que ha devastado la isla y dejado a la mayoría de su población sin agua ni luz por ya casi dos meses. Escúchenla hasta el final para descubrir el mantra divino— y compártanla con quien pueda necesitarla. NAMASTÉ.

Patriots for Self-Deportation

January 25, 2018 by Marlene Ramirez-Cancio

In collaboration with the Yes Men and a group of artists-activists from the Yes Lab calling themselves the Repatriotas, Marlène co-created Patriots for Self-Deportation (SelfDeport.org): a satirical critique of the increasing criminalization and deportation of undocumented immigrants, as well as the uptick of extreme anti-immigrant laws like SB 1070 in Arizona, HB 56 in Alabama, and the Secure Communities program, which deny basic rights to undocumented people and their families. The Tea Party-esque "go-back-home" rhetoric is so over-the-top—some even clamoring to change the 14th Amendment, so that U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants would not automatically become citizens—that we thought parody was the only sane response.

Tercer Impacto: Hispanacea

January 25, 2018 by Marlene Ramirez-Cancio

TERCER IMPACTO: HISPANACEA (English subtitles)
Fabi and Barbi report on The Hispanic Paradox, Doña Cuca and Hispanacea
2009 | 05:25 min. | DV | Color

Immigrant Latina women—who have had little or no access to education or health care—are living longer than anyone else in the United States. The New York Times has called this phenomenon "The Hispanic Paradox." What if Latinas' longevity could be extracted from their bodies and marketed as a health supplement to the public at large? Find out on the hard-hitting news show, TERCER IMPACTO, as Barbi Bermúdez and Fabi Fernández report on the new craze in energy supplements, HISPANACEA: Your Fountain of Youth. Feel the force that is sweeping the nation!

See our photo album to see images from Univisión's "Primer Impacto", our inspiration for Barbi and Fabi.

Read an interview about Tercer Impacto featured on Sleeping Weazel's cyber art gallery, October 2012

CREDITS: Written, directed, produced by Fulana (Cristina Ibarra , Marlène Ramírez-Cancio, Lisandra Ramos Grullón and Andrea Thome); edited by Marlène Ramírez-Cancio & Fulanation; director of photography Eddie Martinez; sound by Adrian Martinez; original music by Sinuhé Padilla-Isunza. CAST: Andrea Thome, Marlène Ramírez-Cancio, Lisandra Ramos-Grullón, Jen Camp, Cameron Atwell, Daniela Thome, Daniel Norrian, Teresa Basilio, Desiree Gordian, Riyoji Kajiwara, Helen Tong, Teresa Basilio, Sebastián Calderón-Bentín. For more, see rolling credits at the end of video.

Made possible by NALAC Fund for the Arts and the Ford Foundation.

Immigrant Latina women-who have had little or no access to education or health care-are living longer than anyone else in the United States. The New York Times has called this phenomenon "The Hispanic Paradox." What if Latinas' longevity could be extracted from their bodies and marketed as a health supplement to the public at large?

Tercer Impacto: Hispanacea [subtítulos en español]

January 25, 2018 by Marlene Ramirez-Cancio

TERCER IMPACTO: HISPANACEA (con subtítulos en español)
Fabi y Barbi informan sobre La Paradoja Hispana, Doña Cuca e Hispanacea
2009 | 05:25 min. | DV | Color

Las inmigrantes latinas—sin acceso a la educación o al cuidado de salud—tienen vidas más largas que el resto de los estadounidenses. El New York Times le ha llamado a este fenómeno “La Paradoja Hispana”. ¿Qué pasaría si la longevidad de las latinas pudiera extraerse de sus cuerpos y ser mercadeadas en pastillas “energéticas”? Entérese en el programa de noticias, TERCER IMPACTO: Barbi Bermúdez y Fabi Fernández les informan sobre la última moda en píldoras energéticas, HISPANACEA: Su Fuente de la Juventud. ¡Sienta la fuerza que está arrasando el país!

During the first week of September 2005, as we watched the footage of Hurricane Katrina victims stranded on rooftops for days on end, crowded into the Convention Center and Superdome with no food or water, ignored by FEMA and the Bush Administration, we asked ourselves--as did many, many people--"What if the hurricane had hit a wealthy area instead? What if those affected hadn't been mostly poor and black (or "underprivileged anyway", as Barbara Bush said)?"... Screened at the Corto Circuito Festival in NYC (2005); Muestra Nacional de Arte 2005-2006 Rewind... Rewind... Video arte puertorriqueño at the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña in San Juan, Puerto Rico (2006); VIII SALON INTERNACIONAL DE ARTE DIGITAL in La Habana, Cuba (2006); video-art series video-art series Miradas de Mujer: doce video artistas iberoamericanas, Montevideo, Uruguay (2007)

Operation Blue Blood

January 25, 2018 by Marlene Ramirez-Cancio

OPERATION BLUE BLOOD
You're In
2005 | 01:30 min. | DV | Color

Screened at the Corto Circuito Festival in NYC (2005); Muestra Nacional de Arte 2005-2006 Rewind... Rewind... Video arte puertorriqueño at the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña in San Juan, Puerto Rico (2006); VIII SALON INTERNACIONAL DE ARTE DIGITAL in La Habana, Cuba (2006); video-art series video-art series Miradas de Mujer: doce video artistas iberoamericanas, Montevideo, Uruguay (2007)

Created, produced, directed by Fulana (Lisandra Ramos Grullón and Marlène Ramírez-Cancio); editing and sound design by Cameron Atwell; sound recording and mixing by Milton Ruiz. CAST: Marlène Ramírez-Cancio and Cameron Atwell (voice-overs).

This satirical pharmaceutical commercial by Fulana was made in the context of the Iraq war and the Bush administration, at a time when being a "good American," they felt, meant falling into a kind of political and historical amnesia. The "Amnezac" commercial, much in the style of drugs like Paxil and Zoloft, asks consumers to think about their emotional state and suggest they may need clinical treatment. "Do you feel anxiety about world events you cannot change?," it asks. "Are your political concerns interfering with your patriotic activities, like shopping and paying taxes? Does the Iraq war remind you of US invasions of Latin American countries, including your own? You may be suffering from Historical Memoritis." It urges viewers to block their long-term historical memory with Amnezac: The Most Powerful Anti-Historiamine on the Market.

Amnezac

January 25, 2018 by Marlene Ramirez-Cancio

AMNEZAC
The Most Powerful Anti-Historiamine on the Market
2005 | 01:00 min. | DV | Color

Do you feel anxiety about world events you cannot change? Are your political concerns interfering with your patriotic activities, like shopping and paying taxes? Does the Iraq war remind you of US invasions of Latin American countries, including your own? You may be suffering from Historical Memoritis. Ask your doctor about Amnezac: The Most Powerful Anti-Historiamine on the Market.

CREDITS: Written, directed, produced by Fulana (Cristina Ibarra, Marlène Ramírez-Cancio, Lisandra Ramos-Grullón & Andrea Thome); edited by Cristina Ibarra; sound recording and mixing by Milton Ruiz; graphic design by Marlène Ramírez-Cancio. CAST: Rachelle Mendez; Marlène Ramírez-Cancio (voice-over).

Éste es un comercial satírico sobre un fármaco ficticio, creado por Fulana en el contexto de la Guerra de Irak y la administración de Bush, durante estos tiempos en los que ser un "buen Americano", ellas sienten, significa permanecer en un tipo de amnesia política e histórica. El comercial de "Amnezac", al igual que otros comerciales de fármacos como Paxil y Zoloft, invita a sus consumidores a que reflexionen sobre su estado emocional y le sugiere que es probable que necesiten tratamiento clínico. El comercial pregunta: "¿Sientes ansiedad sobre los eventos mundiales que no puedes cambiar?, ¿Están tus preocupaciones políticas interfiriendo con tus actividades patrióticas, tales como ir de compras o pagar impuestos? ¿ La Guerra de Irak, te recuerda a otras invasiones Estadounidenses a países Latinoamericanos, incluyendo el tuyo? Debes estar padeciendo de Memoritis Histórica." Luego de establecer el diagnóstico, el comercial le urge a los televidentes que bloqueen su memoria histórica a largo plazo, con Amnezac: "el más poderoso Anti-Historiamínico en el mercado".

Amnezac [subtítulos en español]

January 25, 2018 by Marlene Ramirez-Cancio

AMNEZAC (con subtítulos en español)
El Anti-Historiamínico Más Poderoso del Mercado
2005 | 01:00 min. | DV | Color

¿Siente ansiedad por eventos mundiales que usted no puede cambiar? ¿Sus inquietudes políticas interfieren en sus actividades patrióticas, como ir de compras y pagar impuestos? ¿La guerra en Irak le recuerda a las invasiones estadounidenses de países latinoamericanos, incluyendo el suyo? Tal vez padezca de Memoritis Histórica." Luego de establecer el diagnóstico, el comercial le urge a los televidentes que bloqueen su memoria histórica a largo plazo, con Amnezac: "el más poderoso Anti-Historiamínico en el mercado.

Fulana's "Lupe & JuanDi from the Block" is a mock music video that explores two main themes: the hyper-commercialization of religious icons, and the "whitening" of Latinos when they cross over into mainstream pop culture. Fulana used The Virgin of Guadalupe to comment on the commodification of religion, as her image is everywhere: on t-shirts, postcards, key chains, handbags, designer jeans, etc.; she has become a hipster-friendly Latina Virgin superstar. Juan Diego, the indigenous man to whom this Virgin first appeared, has recently made it to sainthood, but he has been "whitened" in the Vatican's official image, which erases his indigenous traits and makes him look like a Spaniard. This is reminiscent of the whitening of Latina/o pop stars when they "make it" in the music industry (e.g. Shakira). Rewriting J-Lo's pop hit "Jenny from the Block," this video stages the "creation" of Saint Juan Diego by mafia-sounding Vatican intelligence (the Pope and music producer Emilio Estefan). Knowing the Catholic Church is in crisis, losing many of their flock to Evangelicals, they decide to canonize Juan Diego to attract the Latino market. Mr. Estefan gives Juan Diego a "cross-over make-over" and the Pope canonizes him on the spot. JuanDi is thrilled by his transformation, but the Virgin admonishes him for having sold out. As the song progresses, their fighting becomes more intense, their egos take over, and they eventually alienate their supporters, who go off with an Evangelical couple who knocks at their door.

Lupe & JuanDi from the Block

January 25, 2018 by Marlene Ramirez-Cancio

LUPE & JUANDI FROM THE BLOCK
La Virgen de Guadalupe and El Indio Juan Diego on Race and Capitalism
2003 | 05:06 min. | DV | Color

Inspired by La Virgen de Guadalupe, San Juan Diego, and Nuestra Señora de J-Lo, this music video was created to answer burning questions, such as: How come El Indio Juan Diego became a white man for his saintly Vatican image?, Is the Pope concerned about losing the Latino market?, What's up with $600 designer Virgen de Guadalupe jeans?, and Are we fooled by the props G-Loop's got? Is she, is she, Lupe from the Block?

WINNER, Best Short Fiction, CineFestival 2004. Also selected as part of the Smokin Mirrors Film Festival in LA (2003); the L-Factor exhibit at Exit Art Gallery in NYC (2004), the Women of Color Film Festival in NYC (2004); the 'SpanicAttack festival in Lima Perú (2004) and NYC (2005); the LART's Arte con Filo in NYC (2004), the Havana Film Festival in New York (2005); Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in SF (2005); Galería de la Raza in SF (2005); Muestra Nacional de Arte 2005-2006 Rewind... Rewind... Video arte puertorriqueño at the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña in San Juan, Puerto Rico (2006);VIII SALON INTERNACIONAL DE ARTE DIGITAL in La Habana, Cuba (2006); Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (MACO) (2006); Fundación de Arte Contemporáneo de Montevideo, Uruguay (2006); Instituto Cervantes in Brasília, Brasil (2007)

CREDITS: Written, directed, produced by Fulana (Cristina Ibarra, Marlène Ramírez-Cancio, Lisandra Ramos Grullón and Andrea Thome); edited by Cristina Ibarra; CAST: Andrea Thome, Marlène Ramírez-Cancio, Luis Grullón, Lisandra Ramos-Grullón, Aroosha Rana, Herminia Collado, Miguel Luciano, Adriana Vázquez. For more, see rolling credits at the end of video.

When our abuelitas cover their couches, their lamps, their TV sets—todo!—in clear plastic, what are they trying so desperately to protect? Our first project together, Latino Plastic Cover is a mock cable access commercial for the ultimate all-purpose product, guaranteed not only to keep dust off your muebles, but to solve all kinds of social ills affecting the Latino community & beyond. Discover the luxury of freedom! Winner, 2nd Place, NALIP NY Film Slam 2001. Screened at 'SpanicAttack in Lima, Perú (2004) and New York City (2005); the Encuentro de Mujeres in Cádiz, Spain (2004); the Havana Film Festival in New York (2005); Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco (2005);Muestra Nacional de Arte 2005-2006 Rewind... Rewind... Video arte puertorriqueño at the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña in San Juan, Puerto Rico (2006);VIII SALON INTERNACIONAL DE ARTE DIGITAL in La Habana, Cuba (2006); VIII SALON INTERNACIONAL DE ARTE DIGITAL in La Habana, Cuba (2006); the video-art series Miradas de Mujer: doce video artistas iberoamericanas in Montevideo, Uruguay (2007); Centro Cultural Itaú in São Paulo (2008-2010)

Latino Plastic Cover

January 25, 2018 by Marlene Ramirez-Cancio

LATINO PLASTIC COVER
Because Plastic Is Forever
2000 | 01:15 min. | DV | Color

CREDITS: Written, directed, produced by Fulana (Cristina Ibarra, Marlène Ramírez-Cancio, Lisandra Ramos-Grullón & Andrea Thome), edited by Cristina Ibarra. CAST: Lisandra Ramos-Grullón; Alex Rivera; Andrea Thome; Joe Thome; Cristina Ibarra; Marlène Ramírez-Cancio (voice-over).

"Latino Plastic Cover" fue el primer corto de Fulana, un colectivo de video fundado por cuatro latinas en Nueva York. A través de la parodia y la sátira, Fulana explora temas que afectan a las comunidades latinas en los Estados Unidos, indagando en las sutilezas que unen nuestras experiencias, ensayando estrategias que visibilizan lo que nos toca, casi siempre, leer entre líneas. Su trabajo, que consiste mayormente de anuncios paródicos de televisión, video clips y propagandas impresas, responde al marketing de productos (e ideas) dirigidos hacia los latinos en los medios masivos. "Latino Plastic Cover" es un anuncio paródico de la panacea perfecta, que no sólo te garantiza mantener tus muebles limpios, sino que también soluciona todo tipo de problema social en la comunidad latina y el país entero. ¡Descubre la libertad de Latino Plastic Cover!

Latino Plastic Cover [español]

January 25, 2018 by Marlene Ramirez-Cancio

LATINO PLASTIC COVER
Porque el plástico es para siempre
2000 | 01:15 min. | DV | Color

Cuando nuestras abuelitas cubren con plástico el sofá, la lámpara, el televisor—¡todo!—¿qué es lo que intentan proteger? "Latino Plastic Cover" fue el primer corto de Fulana—un anuncio paródico de la panacea perfecta, que no sólo te garantiza mantener tus muebles limpios, sino que también soluciona todo tipo de problema social en la comunidad latina y el país entero. ¡Descubre la libertad de Latino Plastic Cover!