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Latino-Native American Cultural Center newspaper clippings, 1972-1988
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Iowa Scene Nov. 1986 Student Filmmaker Preserves Culture's Memories Senior broadcasting and film major Joe Castel had only to go as far as his Iowa hometown to capture the language and culture of Mexican people. His video documentary, "Recordar," features three migrant workers, a woman who runs a Mexican store, and a nun named Sister Irene, all from Muscatine. "Recordar" means to remember, and Castel says he wants to make people remember Mexican heritage, whether they are Mexican or not. "I want people to realize that, although Chicanos are of the Third World, we are of this world, our world," he says. Castel says problems of discrimination against Mexicans in America stem from ignorance. "People cannot identify us by looking at us. Once they understand I'm Mexican, they automatically typify me as an illegal alien because they don't know any better," he says. Castel says American movies, which often portray Mexicans as greasy and unintelligent, do little to improve the image of Mexican in American society. "I'm trying to get people away from these images by exposing them to Mexican culture and values, and giving them a richer understanding of the Mexican people," says Castel. To capture the beauty of some of these Mexican traditions, Castel returned home to Muscatine and videotaped a Mexican wedding, including the lasso ceremony, which is performed at every Mexican wedding. The ceremony brings a couple together by wrapping a rosary around them, as a sign that the two will conduct their marriage in God. Mariachi bands serenade people at the reception with violins, guitars, trumpets, and voices. According to Castel, language, too, plays a role in preserving a national heritage. Castel says his mother named him Joe and never spoke Spanish in the house where he grew up in attempt to hide his Mexican identity. Although her intentions were to alleviate prejudice in school, Castel says he feels he was deprived of a fundamental part of his heritage. "Adapting to this country is great," he says, "forgetting where you came from is not." Besides his video work, which has appeared on cable television and at film festivals, Castel is an executive producer for Student Video Productions, a UI student organization that produces tapes. He's also production manager for two advanced film classes because, he says, he owes The University of Iowa some of his time. "The University helped me out a lot. I'm simply paying it back a little bit," he says. "I'm glad I came here," says Castel. "The broadcasting and film department is rated third in the country and it gives me good access to equipment and people. I've met people from India, Malaysia, Korea, China, Chile--every place imaginable. We are brought together through film to discover how alike we really are." [Photo] Joe Castel
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Iowa Scene Nov. 1986 Student Filmmaker Preserves Culture's Memories Senior broadcasting and film major Joe Castel had only to go as far as his Iowa hometown to capture the language and culture of Mexican people. His video documentary, "Recordar," features three migrant workers, a woman who runs a Mexican store, and a nun named Sister Irene, all from Muscatine. "Recordar" means to remember, and Castel says he wants to make people remember Mexican heritage, whether they are Mexican or not. "I want people to realize that, although Chicanos are of the Third World, we are of this world, our world," he says. Castel says problems of discrimination against Mexicans in America stem from ignorance. "People cannot identify us by looking at us. Once they understand I'm Mexican, they automatically typify me as an illegal alien because they don't know any better," he says. Castel says American movies, which often portray Mexicans as greasy and unintelligent, do little to improve the image of Mexican in American society. "I'm trying to get people away from these images by exposing them to Mexican culture and values, and giving them a richer understanding of the Mexican people," says Castel. To capture the beauty of some of these Mexican traditions, Castel returned home to Muscatine and videotaped a Mexican wedding, including the lasso ceremony, which is performed at every Mexican wedding. The ceremony brings a couple together by wrapping a rosary around them, as a sign that the two will conduct their marriage in God. Mariachi bands serenade people at the reception with violins, guitars, trumpets, and voices. According to Castel, language, too, plays a role in preserving a national heritage. Castel says his mother named him Joe and never spoke Spanish in the house where he grew up in attempt to hide his Mexican identity. Although her intentions were to alleviate prejudice in school, Castel says he feels he was deprived of a fundamental part of his heritage. "Adapting to this country is great," he says, "forgetting where you came from is not." Besides his video work, which has appeared on cable television and at film festivals, Castel is an executive producer for Student Video Productions, a UI student organization that produces tapes. He's also production manager for two advanced film classes because, he says, he owes The University of Iowa some of his time. "The University helped me out a lot. I'm simply paying it back a little bit," he says. "I'm glad I came here," says Castel. "The broadcasting and film department is rated third in the country and it gives me good access to equipment and people. I've met people from India, Malaysia, Korea, China, Chile--every place imaginable. We are brought together through film to discover how alike we really are." [Photo] Joe Castel
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