#multimonica

Chronicles of...

Parents can definitely be hard to please. Take it from my experience- my dad always say that he has to be entertained with whatever he watches or else he’ll fall asleep right then and there.

You might be thinking, “why is she talking about her dad?..” Well, during the viewing of Farruko: En Letra De Otro, my dad opened up with a story about his rambunctious days of growing up and getting into trouble in Puerto Rico.

Set back in Puerto Rico, Farruko’s newly-aired HBO Latino special, to me, has been one of the most humble and down-to-earth productions I’ve ever seen. From an auto shop to a grand stage en El Barrio, Farruko takes his viewers and fans on a journey through his upbringing as a boy playing with toys to the megahit he has become today.

Before watching this, I honestly didn’t know much about Farruko in the first place. But with specials like this, seeing his inner workings of influences like Don Omar and Maná has drawn me closer to discovering what he comes up with next- island nostalgia and all.

I started this tumblr in the first place to develop my own writing and highlight Latinx works that surface in TV and beyond.

In what I would say is a project looking to basically accomplish the same goal, Guatemalan comedian Arturo Castro (most known for his roles on Broad City and Narcos) has branched off into his own creative endeavor, writing, directing, and producing his own sketch comedy series, Alternatino.

Coming from his own online series of videos of the same title, Arturo unapologetically and brilliantly illustrates the Latinx experience on-screen, from the hilarious musical romp about Trump’s utterly stupid and infamous paper towel toss into a crowd of Puerto Rican’s to the awkwardness of dating a white girl only interested in the machismo, over-produced attitude of Latinx men.

With laughs from ear-to-ear and a nod back to his Broad City roots with psychedelic animations in his transitions, I would say this new show is an entertainingly hilarious and approachable showcase into a minority well-deserving of some accurate spotlighting.

Check out the first full-length episode here.

You know when you have a favorite actor or actress in your mind, and anything they happen to be cast in is just wonderful by default? For me, one of my absolute favorites is the incomparable Gina Rodriguez. As a trailblazer for feminism and a big-time titan in the eyes of current Latinx media, Gina’s unapologetic sense of self, along with her strong Chicago Boricua roots has always inspired me. In one of her latest projects, “Someone Great” tells the story of Jenny, a successful music journalist who’s been given the great opportunity to write for Rolling Stone- but with great opportunity comes great sacrifice. With the new title, she has to leave the comforts of her home and everything she knows in NYC and move to San Francisco. For the past few years since graduating college, Jenny has spent most, if not all, of her time with her boyfriend Nate and her best friends Blair and Erin. Life is great living it up and smoking a joint with her friends, but as the smoke clears, Jenny’s entire reality comes to a halt when Nate breaks up with her. I guess in the age of FaceTime and high-speed Internet, long-distance isn’t an option for them.  Rather than wallow in the despair of being suddenly single, Jenny takes it upon herself to advantage of one last big night in the Big Apple. From hookups to Molly to bodegas evry which way, Jenny and crew venture through them streets doing anything (or anyone *wink wink*) they can get into an uber-exclusive after-dark concert showcase. But along the way, different spots harken back to fond memories as Jenny trips in and out of her hype and drug-induced state. In all three women’s lives, their fun is never-ending together, but when the dust clears, some adult decisions need to be made- commitments, relationships, their budding careers.  But partner or no partner, each of them stand as a strong and independent being with the support and love of each other to keep them grounded. In the end, they can do good (or bad-ass) all by themselves.    

The ‘Multimonica I & II’, Siegfried Mager, Harald Bode, Germany, 1950

The ‘Hohner Multimonica’ was one of the first mass-produced analogue synthesisers. It was designed probably as early as 1940 but only came onto the market in Germany after the Second World War in the late 1940s.