CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study
Group of Chicano who came from Mexico became part of the United States of America in 1848 after a change of the border between Mexico and the United States (Acuna, 2004). The change of the border was due to an agreement between Mexico and the United States caused by the war between both countries. The treaty left nearly two-thirds of Mexico's territory within the United States. There are six regions or states, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming originating from the Mexico territory. The existing situation causes Mexican citizens who have Mexican citizenship to change their citizenship to United States citizenship. For this reason, there are several changes that Chicano people experience as new citizens in the United States. The existence of Chicano people was also from ‘mass migration’.
In the late of 19th and in the early of 20th century was the age of mass migration. From 1830 until 1930, around 38 million people arrived in the United States. Those populations came from Europe, Mexico, Asia and other Middle East countries (Advani & Reich, 2015). For many of years Mexicans have crossing the border into the United States of America or U.S., not only from legal borders, by tolls or even by planes, but also from illegal crossings, some of the illegal crossers break fences, climb, and even willing to be smuggled to cross the nation (Advani &
Reich, 2015). This legal and illegal crosses are aim to seek a better life and better future, some of their family members like their father willing to stay in U.S. even for years, some of them even don’t know when will to get back (Advani & Reich, 2015).
The meaning of Chicano term is that both generic and manner referring to people, men or women that descendants of Mexican heritage that lives in United States or precisely Mexican - American, but for Chicanas it is identified as specially for men who are descendants of Mexican (Zinn, 1980). There are several terms related to the Chicano community group and Rinderle (2005) distinguishes five groups which are defined as follows: (a) Mexican (Mexican) refers to citizens of Mexico, and those born in Mexico despite being in their current country of residence;
(b) Mexican American (Mexican-American) is of American descent born and living in the United States; (c) Chicano / a is a person of Mexican descent, born and living in the United States, who has a political sense of himself as a member of a historically and structurally oppressed group; (d) Hispanic (Hispanic) indicates a person with origin or ancestry from Spanish-speaking countries (not necessarily Mexico), residing in the United States; and (e) Latino refers to people living in the United States of Latin American descent or ancestry regardless of race, language, or culture. However, in this research, the writer focused on one term refers to Mexican Americans which is Chicano.
The story about Chicano is found in the novel The House of Broken Angel. This novel centers to the life of Big Angel. The story begins with Big Angel wakes up late to his mother’s funeral, at that time Big Angel is ill and also his wife, Perla and Minnie his daughter cared for him.
When he comes to the funeral many problems come to his face, like his sister MaryLu and her sister in law called Paz have an ongoing feud. Then many of Big Angel’s relatives come to the funeral, but Big Angel’s little brother named Little Angel seems doesn’t know much about his relatives. At one night Big Angel remembers the story of border crossing act into United States of America to make a new better life, he also recites his father’s bad manners and his love. Don Segundo it is how he called his father, his father left him and his family just for a Caucasian
wife in Tijuana. This novel focuses on the character of Big Angel who reflects the figure of Chicano men in the United Stated of America.
Finally, the writer considers using the novel of the House of Broken Angel by some considerations. This novel reflects the different kind of Chicano men in the United Stated of America. The topic chosen is finally about Chicano masculinity as it refers to different kind of mean reflected from the main character in the House of Broken Angel. Through masculinity this thesis analyzes Chicano or Mexican that lives in the U.S., called Big Angel, his struggles for every steps he takes, his dedication, his strong will to be called Big Angel even by Caucasians.
The writer also believes that by learns this novel can also learns one of the sociological aspect through this novel, which can helps reader to understand, not only cultures in U.S. but also Chicano masculinity also. To understand how our social world is going is really great, some of prominent writers put their social experiences through their masterpieces, one of the master pieces is novel, writer believes through reading adequate novels that contains values, norms and other social values can improve knowledge and be open minded person. The writer hopes that by this research, readers can understand well what was shaped our modern culture today and what is shaping our future tomorrow, by this research that discus about one of cultures and social values in United States inside the novel of The House of Broken Angels.
This study is conducted because the researcher believes that it is important to bring the discussion of social issue portrayal in literary work, or specifically novel. As an imaginative written works, literature is able to develop the story to get closer to reality (Rexroth, 2021). In other words, though it is a fictive work, literature is still able to play a role as the reflection of the real world (Davidsen, 2018). Considering that, the writer conducts this study to see how the
unsettling social case in the real world is portrayed in the literary work. Additionally, novel is chosen because the novel has considerable length and complexity that can deal with the imaginative experience of human. Considering that, the writer believes that novel is a perfect object to be discussed in a study that aims to reveal the issue of the real world.
1.2 Research Questions
After seeing the research background stated above, the writer would like to settle the research questions, which are:
- How is the Chicano masculinity portrayed inside Urrea’s The House of Broken Angles?
1.3 Research Objectives
After knowing the research questions above, the writer concludes that the research will have three objectives of the research, which are:
- To reveal the way Chicano masculinity is portrayed inside Urrea’s The House of Broken Angels
1.4 Use of Study
The use of study of this research is divided into two, there are theoretical use and practical use.
This research will be useful for society and future writers with the same topic. The main purpose of this research is to give knowledge and information.
1.4.1 Theoretical Use
This research is expect to elaborate theories of masculinities by R.W. Connell. The House of Broken Angels novel (2018) this research will explain the Chicano masculinity inside the novel.
The information written in this study can be used by further researchers to analyze novel or the sampe topic.
1.4.2 Practical Use
This study is intended to give more information about Chicano masculinity in the United States that is represented inside The House of Broken Angels.
1.5 Scope of the Study
This study will focus on analyzing Chicano masculinity inside The House of Broken Angels.
This thesis will apply the theories representation theories from Stuart Hall and use discursive approach from Michael Foucault. This research also applies theories from Baca Zinn about Chicano masculinity.
