Introduction
YouTube, a video-sharing website purchased by Google in November of 2006, has become increasingly popular throughout the 2000s, especially within the Latino community. In fact, “more Hispanics watch YouTube than any cable network in the United States.” Unsurprisingly, when those Latinos are browsing YouTube, approximately half of them are searching for culturally relevant content. Therefore, an analysis of how Latinos and Latino culture are presented in YouTube is essential when discussing the representation of general Latino representation in the digital media. The focus of this research will be dedicated to determining how latinidad is expressed through content created by popular, comedic Latino YouTubers. In an examination of the content produced by Lele Pons, Eric Ochoa, and David Lopez, the principal way comedic YouTubers display latinidad is through their own unique combination of the following: use of language, comedic use of stereotypes, use of references to heritage, and use of music.
NOTES
NOTES
- The terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” will be used interchangeably in this essay to refer to people of Latin American origin or Latin American descent living in the United States of America, due to the way “Hispanic” is used on the U.S. census.
- Latinidad is defined by the author as a term that refers to the various characteristics shared by Latin Americans and their descendants.
- The author uses "comedic" to refer to YouTubers placed in the “Comedy” category by Social Blade
- The author uses the term “popular Latino YouTubers" to refer to YouTubers originally from Latin American countries or who are of Latin American descent and live in the United States, who have high numbers of subscribers. Also focusing on individuals running a channel, rather than a group/organization/business.