Okay, so as a lot of you know, I am doing my Master's of Fine Arts thesis on documenting the Latino/a communities here in the United States by the means of photographing people in environmental portraits.
My professors are not currently happy with my work because of the fact that the photographs are not showing the "more traditional" side of what THEY think Latin America is about, such as quinceaneras and everyone cooking menudo, etc.
So, I am trying to conduct a small, unscientific poll here and just to see how many of the people here on SG from Latin America or those Latinos/as here in the States have ever been to a quinceanera or had a quinceanera held for you. From what I am finding out in my family, which includes third and fourth cousins, is that NO ONE had a quinceanera and really no one makes "Traditional food" on an every day basis.
It is starting to piss me off, because my portfolio is trying to break people's preconceived ideas about what it is to be Latino/a in today's world, and they are wanting me to play more to stereotypes. However, I will add in things like quinceaneras if the majority of people that I talk to actually do still participate in events like this.
So your input is wanted and very much excepted. Thank you in advance for your comments.