5/23 Rodriguez

In response to Rodriguez’s article, I agree that cars have become cultural symbols and tools for negotiating cultural identity. Through an ethnographic point of view, I have grown up with men in my family who take cars seriously, but also for leisure and entertainment. With in- depth ideas of American cars and imported cars, I learned that this idea of cars simply as tools of “leisure and entertainment” go beyond these notions.

Growing up, I also saw my father and his brothers having extensive conversations about cars, but, not just with any cars—Japanese cars. They migrated to the U.S., specifically in the Bay Area in their early twenties. I am not sure what exactly triggered their fondness to cars, but cars became a valuable commodity. They detailed their Japanese imported cars: Hondas and Toyotas, and took care of them as if the cars were their old children. Though not necessary, my father fueled his white Toyota with the highest priced gasoline and gave the car frequent car washes. He drove it with pride, adding details of his name as if he was his own Nascar driver. He never told me if him and his brothers raced, but he talked about the importance of showing off his car. They frequently visited car shows.