In Chapter 5 of Day in the Dead in the USA: The Migration and Transformation of a Cultural Phenomenon, Regina Marchi discusses the political themes surrounding various Day of the Dead celebrations in America. She claims that Day of the Dead events offer opportunities for Latinos to voice their opinions about current issues, giving them a sense of cultural independence. Furthermore, Marchi argues that the practices and rituals of these Latinos living in the U.S. during the Day of the Dead holiday brings them closer together in the midst of political adversity (Marchi, 73). Throughout this chapter, Marchi talks about different Day of the Dead events that have occurred in the U.S. within the last century and how their presence has shone light …show more content…
She argues that the mainstream media and its positive portrayals of the Day of the Dead has strengthened Latino identity and their sense of community, in addition to providing opportunities for the general population to discover more about their culture (Marchi, 97). With the help of newspapers, television shows, magazines, and other commercial establishments, the Day of the Dead has become an extremely popular holiday in the United States, familiar to non-Latinos as well. Marchi discusses the power of the media and its ability to attract wider audiences along with commercial sponsors to increase funds for spending (Marchi, 97). She goes on to offer reasons for the rise in U.S. media coverage concerning the Day of the Dead. Marchi claims this can be explained by the people’s desire to learn about other cultures as the Latino population continues to grow in the U.S. and the increase in Latino reporters eager to educate others about relevant issues in today’s society. The media is hugely responsible for popularizing the Day of the Dead in the United States, allowing for both Latinos and non-Latinos to embrace this holiday as a multicultural …show more content…
She claims that cultural rituals and public communication enhance understanding of other cultures and encourages others to become more involved in society (Marchi, 138). Additionally, Marchi notes that many times these events take on political meaning when we don’t even realize it. Marchi argues that the U.S. Day of the Dead celebrations have provided Latinos and non-Latinos with a sense of identity, community, and cultural pride. In conclusion, Latino culture and the Day of the Dead events in the United States have greatly influenced the lives of Americans and will continue to shape society for years to