A subculture of Chicano/as and Mexican Americans popular in the 1940s, Pachuco/as defined themselves by their excessively large and flamboyant outfits, a flamboyance also on display in lowrider culture. If, as stated by Dick Hebdige, signifying practices are always political, what does this element of Pachuco/as culture signify about the history of being Mexican American in the United States?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The element of flamboyance and excess in Pachuco/as culture signifies that Mexican Americans continue to resist the hegemonic expectation that they hide rather than celebrate their cultural identity. This resistance is a form of political signifying practice, as stated by Hebdige, and reflects the historical struggle of Mexican Americans to maintain and assert their unique cultural identity in the face of assimilationist pressure to assimilate to mainstream American culture. The fact that this cultural resistance has persisted into the present day suggests that Mexican American culture is still not fully accepted or valued by the larger U.S. society.

A Subculture of Chicano/as and Mexican Americans Popular in the 1940s