5/23 Rodriguez/Gonzalez + Kelly Loves Tony Part 2

In Rodriguez’s and Gonzalez’s article, it brings out a lot of ideas of culture in the car industry (racing, producing, driving, etc). Race in the sense where Asian people are labeled as people of production. People who make the cars in order for people to drive and race. Gender plays a big role in the racing community because racers show a form of masculinity based on the design of their cars and the way they drive. A part of the article that I found to be quite interesting was when the authors was giving examples of how masculinity is seen in the racing community. The authors gives a specific example of how import cars tie to a form of self-conscious masculinity. Where as, custom cars that relate to current trends and females, it is seen as a big form of masculinity. However, it is different in the Asian-American community in the sense that it is the opposite of what the authors stated earlier. In the Asian-American community, import cars are actually seen as “sexy.” Which gives the cars a certain type of “cool” which is added to their literacy. This made me think of how different parts of the world adapt certain customs, but in the end the custom gets changed up. Similar to how homosexuality is seen as okay in the United States, but in different parts of Asia it is strictly looked down upon.

In the film Kelly Loves Tony, it is shown throughout the film that Tony does not understand the importance of education. He always asks Kelly why she wants to go to school when she has to take care of a son, and that it is not normal for moms to go to school. Kelly expresses that she does not feel comfortable living with Tony’s family and shows a sign of cultural resistance by saying she wants to move out. Kelly is also shown doing many things that are according to their customs, but is seen saying that she does not want to do it. An example is the special bath that Tony’s mother made for her after giving birth to their son Andrew. Kelly is seen narrating over the process of how it is tradition to take the bath, but it is something she herself does not want to do. Eventually, Kelly becomes pregnant again in the sense where she faces cultural struggle. It seems like she has come to accept that she can not attend school for the time being because of the second baby coming through. In the car scene where Tony is talking to the driver, Tony states that he wanted a second child. However, the driver tells Tony that it was possible that Kelly wanted to finish school first before having more children. At this point Tony seemed very lost because it seemed like he was set on his own thoughts.

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