Chihuahuas, lions, and pandas

In Racist Chihuahua Trailer, Ashley commented on 2008's Beverly Hills Chihuahua:While agree that this movie looks incredibly stupid (i work at a video store...I've seen the trailer at least a hundred times) i don't think that it is trying to be stereotypical of anyone. It's not saying that ALL natives of central/south America are like chihuahuas...they are assuming that all chihuahuas would have a Chicano accent because that is where their breed originates. (Like a kangaroo with an Australian accent.)My response:

Are you sure the movie isn't saying that all Natives of Central and South America are like Chihuahuas? Does it show any other animals representing Latinos or Natives? Does it show any Chihuahuas that don't have Latino or Native roots? Even Chloe the Beverly Hills Chihuahua gets in touch with her inner Latina, I believe.

Some history of Chihuahuas:The developmental history of the Chihuahua is very difficult to trace and is based largely on speculation and theory, however through folklore, legend and archeological finds, there is sufficient evidence to prove that it is without doubt an ancient breed originating from Pre-Columbian Mexico, and it is believed to predate any other breed of dog in the Americas. The most common theory and most likely is that Chihuahuas are descended from the Techichi, a companion dog favoured by the Toltecs and that the modern dog developed through breeding with miniaturised Chinese dogs brought to the Americas by the Spanish Conquistadors.

Historical records of the Techichi, which were thought to hunt in packs, can only be traced as far back as the ninth century but it is highly likely that this is the Chihuahua's native Mexican ancestor. Evidence of this is that the remains of dogs closely resembling, but slightly larger than the average Chihuahua have been found in such places as the Great Pyramid of Cholula, which dates back to the 2nd century BC and predates the 16th century. There is also evidence to suggest that the Techichi may also predate the Mayans. After the Toltecs were conquered by the Aztecs, it is believed that this early ancestor of the Chihuahua was adopted as a symbol of the upper classes and it has been suggested that they were used in religious ceremonies for the absolution of sins and to guide the spirits of the dead. In terms of size, the present day Chihuahua is much smaller than its ancestors, a change thought to be due to the introduction of miniaturized Chinese dogs, such as the Chinese Crested Dog, into South America by the Spanish.So Chihuahuas are actually a mixed Mesoamerican/Chinese breed. Does the movie show this actual history? No, it shows a made-up, stereotypical history.

Anthropomorphic movie animals

Let's see how other movies handle the issue of representing racial or ethnic groups with animals.

Compare Beverly Hills Chihuahua with The Lion King or Madagascar movies. The latter movies show a range of animals in Africa. They don't associate a single species--e.g., apes--with Africa's people. And they don't show the lone species dancing in grass skirts or waving spears like stereotypical Africans.

Or compare Beverly Hills Chihuahua with Kung Fu Panda. The latter represents Asians with a giant panda, a red panda, a snow leopard, a tigress, a monkey, a mantis, a viper, and a crane. Again, there's no relation between Asians and any one species. Because of the variety of animals, you can't infer that Asians are panda-like or tiger-like or monkey-like.

In contrast, Beverly Hills Chihuahua does equate Chihuahuas with Latinos and Latin American Natives. It does show them engaged in the stereotypical behavior of these people. I don't know how close the correspondence is between Chihuahuas and Latinos, but my impression is it's pretty close.

For more on the subject, see Aztec Animals in Chihuahua and Chihuahua Movie Is Stereotypical.

Below:  "Yo quiero tacos, sombreros, y siestas aunque yo soy Indio y Chino y no Mexicano."