Fulana

a Latina satire collective

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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.

January 25, 2018 /Marlene Ramirez-Cancio
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