Wolves, sheep and "vatos locos" : reflections of gang activity in Chicano literature
The difficult social and economical reality of many barrios in the city of Los Angeles, and the outgrowing anger provoked by this situation in many Chicano youngsters, has resulted in the emergence of a strong gang activity. Violence, crime and a deep sense of frustration lead the lives of the membe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidad de La Rioja
2004-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of English Studies |
| Online Access: | https://publicaciones.unirioja.es/ojs/index.php/jes/article/view/90 |
| _version_ | 1818294478483488768 |
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| author | Amaia Ibarraran Bigalondo |
| author_facet | Amaia Ibarraran Bigalondo |
| author_sort | Amaia Ibarraran Bigalondo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The difficult social and economical reality of many barrios in the city of Los Angeles, and the outgrowing anger provoked by this situation in many Chicano youngsters, has resulted in the emergence of a strong gang activity. Violence, crime and a deep sense of frustration lead the lives of the members of these groups, who, in an attempt to fight a system that does not count on them, choose to live the dark side of life. The gang, albeit its highly hierarchical system of organization, becomes the safe haven in which these angry young Chicanos seek for shelter and protection, in an often self-destructive way. Always Running (1993) by Luis J. Rodriguez and Locas (1997), by Yxta Maya Murray, expose the extreme and harsh existence of Chicano gangs, its internal and external fights for power, and the subsequent fatal consequences that these often provoke upon its members. The different visions of gang life, symbolized by their male and female protagonists, respectively, offer a rough, though extremely human vision of the dark side of the barrio. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T03:32:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b6a9964c02524aca8a372f6e249de324 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1576-6357 1695-4300 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T03:32:23Z |
| publishDate | 2004-05-01 |
| publisher | Universidad de La Rioja |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of English Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-b6a9964c02524aca8a372f6e249de3242022-12-22T00:01:07ZengUniversidad de La RiojaJournal of English Studies1576-63571695-43002004-05-014010711310.18172/jes.9088Wolves, sheep and "vatos locos" : reflections of gang activity in Chicano literatureAmaia Ibarraran Bigalondo0University of the Basque CountryThe difficult social and economical reality of many barrios in the city of Los Angeles, and the outgrowing anger provoked by this situation in many Chicano youngsters, has resulted in the emergence of a strong gang activity. Violence, crime and a deep sense of frustration lead the lives of the members of these groups, who, in an attempt to fight a system that does not count on them, choose to live the dark side of life. The gang, albeit its highly hierarchical system of organization, becomes the safe haven in which these angry young Chicanos seek for shelter and protection, in an often self-destructive way. Always Running (1993) by Luis J. Rodriguez and Locas (1997), by Yxta Maya Murray, expose the extreme and harsh existence of Chicano gangs, its internal and external fights for power, and the subsequent fatal consequences that these often provoke upon its members. The different visions of gang life, symbolized by their male and female protagonists, respectively, offer a rough, though extremely human vision of the dark side of the barrio.https://publicaciones.unirioja.es/ojs/index.php/jes/article/view/90 |
| spellingShingle | Amaia Ibarraran Bigalondo Wolves, sheep and "vatos locos" : reflections of gang activity in Chicano literature Journal of English Studies |
| title | Wolves, sheep and "vatos locos" : reflections of gang activity in Chicano literature |
| title_full | Wolves, sheep and "vatos locos" : reflections of gang activity in Chicano literature |
| title_fullStr | Wolves, sheep and "vatos locos" : reflections of gang activity in Chicano literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wolves, sheep and "vatos locos" : reflections of gang activity in Chicano literature |
| title_short | Wolves, sheep and "vatos locos" : reflections of gang activity in Chicano literature |
| title_sort | wolves sheep and vatos locos reflections of gang activity in chicano literature |
| url | https://publicaciones.unirioja.es/ojs/index.php/jes/article/view/90 |
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