The Gringo in Mananaland

Since the turn of the century, popular media in the U.S. have promoted a stereotyped image of Latin America in order to justify the concept of U.S. dominance in the hemisphere. The Gringo in Mañanaland uses travelogues, dramatic films, industrial films, newsreels, military footage, geographical textbook illustrations, and political cartoons to take a detailed look at United States media representations of Latin America. This video is not a dry document or didactic lesson: it is a look at history and the telling of history. It is a look at how myths are created and passions aroused. It is a comedy, a melodrama, an adventure story and, as today’s headlines attest, a tragic farce.

A Spanish language version is available.