E-mail from Bill Olson, requesting information:

Estimado Dr. Dávila Villers:

I hope you're doing well. Yes, I'm the American who videotaped the interview with you in 1997. Now I'm studying Communications at the University of Wisconsin -- Eau Claire. I have a class called "International Communications," for which I must write a report on Mexico.

I'm interested in how U.S. mass media, as well as Mexican media reports of U.S. lifestyle (such as from Mexican TV tabloid news shows), are affecting Mexican moral values.

For example, I had a girlfriend in Pachuca in '97 who was convinced, based on what she learned from TV, that most American marriages are "open." It seems to me that the cultural influence of American media, as well as Mexican reporting of colorful (newsworthy) American cultural trends, would be having an affect on Mexican youth that might be negative for Mexican society.

I'm assuming there's a debate in Mexico among religious leaders, politicians, teachers and parents about this.

I would greatly appreciate knowing your thoughts and feelings on this subject, but if you are too busy to give the matter much attention, I quite understand.

In the mean time, remain safe, prosperous and happy.

Saludos,

Bill Olson

Correo electrónico de Bill Olson pidiendo información

5/X/99

Estimado Prof. Cisneros Espinosa:

Estoy un estudiante de Comunicaciones en la Universidad de Wisconsin -- Eau Claire (EE.UU.). Tomo una clase se llama "Comunicaciones Internacionales," para que tengo que escribir una tema sobre México.

Me interesa cómo los medios masivos de E.U., y reportajes de nuestra cultura por los medios masivos mexicanos, afectan a los valores morales mexicanos.

Por ejemplo, tuve una novia en Pachuca en '97 que estaba convencida, basado en lo que aprendió de la televisión, que la mayoría de los casamientos norteamericanos son "abiertos." Me parece que la influencia cultural de los medios norteamericanos, y también de los mexicanos que reportan sobre las tendencias culturales sensacionales de mi país, causaría un afecto en la juventud mexicana que es perjudicial a la sociedad mexicana.

Asumo que hay un debate en México entre los líderes religiosos, los políticos, los maestros y los padres acerca de esto.

Apreciaría magníficamente cualquier pensamientos y sentimientos que usted puede compartir en esto. Pero, si usted está demasiado ocupado dar la cuestión mucha atención, yo entiendo completamente. En este caso tal vez pueda compartir este correspondencia con otros también que pueden aydarme.

Saludos,

Bill Olson

Dr. David R. Dávila Villers

Former chair of the Department of
International Relations and History,
School of Social Sciences

Coordinator of the Masters Program in Studies of the United States of America

University of the Americas

From: "David R. Dávila Villers"
To: wdso@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Mexican morals and U.S. Mass Media
Date: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 11:42:28 PDT

(Excerpt)

Dear Bill:

You wrote:

"I'm interested in how U.S. mass media, as well as Mexican media reports of U.S. lifestyle (such as from Mexican TV tabloid news shows), are affecting Mexican moral values."

and

"I'm assuming there's a debate in Mexico among religious leaders, politicians, teachers and parents about this."

The Mexican cinema has had a very permissive content for a long time (Tin Tan comedies, dancers, bars, passion, sex and violence) besides the classic films that appeal to moral and values. And Mexico was, in the 40's and 50's, the second largest producer of films in the world. It is slowly recovering after a long 15 year crisis (73-90).

Pornography, prostitution etc, exist everywhere. Although the Federal and local governments object to it, they do little to eradicate it. Some times they do something to "regulate" it, confining such activities to certain notorious neighborhoods.

The Mexican government did attempt to control the media in 1974 and failed. But Televisa (the largest media consortium in Spanish) has been very chaste on its own, anyway. Since the 90's we have Television Azteca with more "open" soup operas.

There is a lot of bigotry in this. Only recently (the 90's) we have seen successful attempts to unionize the "sexoservidoras" (new, politically correct word in Spanish for whores) in Mexico City.

The US media influence on Mexico has been around forever. But Mexico will absorb and mexicanize whatever comes from the US. Table-dances (the 90's) are far more permissive in Mexico than in the US. Californian youngsters cross the border, every day, to Tijuana for a drink. The youth has more access to alcohol in Mexico than in the US. So the US is not that "open" anyway. There is a lot of puritan hypocrisy. Most Mexicans laughed aloud at the "gringos" judging Clinton for lying on having an affair.

Of course, the traditional middle-class families will resist all attempts against the family, motherland etc. I have seen their banners "Neither abortion, nor communism" in the Guadalupe Basilica.

Some of the changes had come in the form of public campaigns against AIDS. For that reason, the young are now receiving more information than ever before.

I guess you would rather find different opinions according to:

1. Age (young/ old); particularly college age versus older people.
2. Origin (urban/rural); the contrast is bigger between Mexico City and small towns.
3. Gender (male/female); Mexican women are emancipating.

By the way, your girlfriend is somehow right. The US became more permissive after suburbanizing. Infidelity is a feature of "suburban America" (most Americans live in suburbs now).

Ok. I am back to my work now. Thank you for your message, and congratulations on your Spanish. You are doing great.

Ciao

David Davila

José Cisneros Espinosa,

Associate Professor
Communication Sciences
School of Social Sciences

University of the Americas

(Translation by Bill Olson. Original Spanish Version Follows.)

Dear Bill:

I celebrate your effort at speaking Spanish. And although I have very limited time because of my job, I'm sending you some comments below, paragraph by paragraph:

Fri, 8 Oct 1999, Bill Olson wrote:

> 10-8-99

> Dear Professor Cisneros:

> I'm a student of Communications (emphasis in electronic media) in the University of Wisconsin -- Eau Claire (U.S.A.). I'm taking a class called "International Communications," for which I must write a paper.

I CONGRATULATE YOU FOR CONSULTING PEOPLE FROM MEXICO TO SPEAK ABOUT MEXICO.

> I'm interested in how U.S. mass media, as well as Mexican media reports of U.S. lifestyle, are affecting Mexican moral values.

THE INFLUENCE OF AMERICAN MEDIA IN MEXICO IS SO LARGE THAT IT'S NOT RESTRICTED ONLY TO THE CONTENTS, AS IN THE CASE OF MORAL VALUES, BUT COVERS THE VERY ORGANIZATION OF THE MEDIA. THAT IS TO SAY, THE MODELS OF ORGANIZATION TO ACCESS INFORMATION, PROCESS IT, TO PRODUCE MESSAGES AND DISSEMINATE THEM BY MEANS OF BROADCASTS PAID FOR BY COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENT. ALSO THEY ARE TAKEN FROM THE UNITED STATES AND NOT FROM EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA OR OTHER REGIONS OF THE WORLD.

THE CONTENTS ARE DETERMINED BY AMERICAN NEWS AGENCIES THAT HANDLE INFORMATION AS MERCHANDISE, AS WELL AS BY THE PRODUCERS OF MOTION PICTURES, TELEVISION PROGRAMS, COMPUTER PROGRAMS, ETC., ETC.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS INFLUENCE RESTS WITH OUR GOVERNMENT AND OUR BUSINESSESMEN. THE BUSINESSMEN BECAUSE THEY PREFER TO PAY FOR INFORMATION THAT ALREADY EXISTS THAN TO GENERATE IT ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL NEEDS. AND THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT INVEST IN THE MEDIA FOR SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT ONLY FOR ITS POLITICAL PUBLICITY.

>For example, I had a girlfriend in Pachuca in '97 who was convinced, based on what she learned from TV, that most American marriages are "open." It seems to me that the cultural influence of American media, as well as Mexican reporting of sensational American cultural trends, would be having an affect on Mexican youth that might be negative for Mexican society.

THAT WHICH IS CALLED THE "American way of life" IMPACTS MEXICO IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

FOR THE UPPER CLASS, TOTALLY. FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, IN THAT ITS ECONOMIC POWER PERMITS IT TO CONSUME ALL THE GOODS AND SERVICES THAT APPEAR IN AMERICAN MESSAGES. FOR EXAMPLE: TO DRINK WHISKY FOR ANY REASON; TO CONSUME JUNK FOOD; TO HAVE SEX WITH MULTIPLE COUPLES; TO USE DRUGS AS A STATUS SYMBOL; TO USE DISPOSABLE ITEMS, EVEN THOUGH THEY CONTAMINATE; ETC.

FOR THE LOWER CLASS: BUYING EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE SPORTS CLOTHES (TENNIS SHOES), WHICH THE FAMILY CANNOT AFFORD; TATTOOING THE SKIN; USING EARRINGS AND OTHER ORNAMENTS [PIERCED] IN THE BODY.

> I'm assuming there's a debate in Mexico among religious leaders, politicians, teachers and parents about this.

IN REALITY THERE IS NOT A SERIOUS DEBATE THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT THE DECISIONS OF SOCIETY. THE CHURCH LOST CONTROL OF PRIVATE MORALS LONG AGO, AND THE POLITICIANS ARE WORRIED ABOUT MAINTAINING OR ATTAINING POWER.

ANY DECLARATION IS MERELY DEMAGOGIC. IT IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED IN THE UNITED STATES WITH CLINTON. HIS SEXUAL CONDUCT DID NOT REALLY AFFECT HIS POLITICAL FUNCTION, ALTHOUGH THAT IS WHAT HIS POLITICAL ENEMIES WISHED FOR.

> I would greatly appreciate knowing your thoughts and feelings on this subject, but if you are too busy to give the matter much attention, I quite understand. In that case, perhaps you could share this correspondence with others who might be able to help me.

I RECOMMEND THAT YOU ACCESS OR "LINK TO" THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF AUSTIN. THEY HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF LITERATURE ABOUT MEXICO AND LATIN AMERICA. SURELY YOU'LL FIND SOME STUDY THERE ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF WHICH YOU'RE WRITING.

GOOD LUCK.

José Cisneros Espinosa,

Profesor Asociado
Ciencias de la Comunicación
Escuela de Ciencias Sociales

Universidad de las Américas

Apreciable Bill:

Celebro tu esfuerzo por hablar espaniol. Y aunque tengo muy limitado el

tiempo por mi trabajo, a continuacion te envio algunos comentarios,

pararafo por parrafo:

El viernes, 8 de Oct de 1999, Bill Olson escribió:

> 8-X-99

> Estimado Profesor Cisneros Espinosa:

> Estoy un estudiante de Comunicaciones (emfasis en los medios electronicos) en la Universidad de Wisconsin -- Eau Claire (EE.UU.). Tomo una clase se llama "Comunicaciones Internacionales," para que tengo que escribir una tema sobre México.

TE FELICITO POR CONSULTAR A PERSONAS DE MEXICO PARA HABLAR SOBRE MEXICO.

> Me interesa cómo los medios masivos de E.U., y reportajes de nuestra cultura por los medios masivos mexicanos, afectan a los valores morales mexicanos.

LA INFLUENCIA DE LOS MEDIOS NORTEAMERICANOS EN MEXICO ES TAN GRANDE, QUE NO SE CIRCUNSCRIBE UNICAMENTE A LOS CONTENIDOS, COMO EN EL CASO DE LOS VALORES MORALES, SINO QUE ABARCA LA ORGANIZACION MISMA DE LOS MEDIOS. ES DECIR, LOS MODELOS DE ORGANIZACION PARA CAPTAR LA INFORMACION, PROCESARLA, PRODUCIR MENSAJES Y DIFUNDIRLOS MEDIANTE EMISIONES PAGADAS

POR LA PUBLICIDAD COMERCIAL, TAMBIEN SE TOMAN DE ESTADOS UNIDOS Y NO DE EUROPA, AMERICA SUR U OTRA REGION DEL MUNDO.

LOS CONTENIDOS ESTAN DETERMINADOS POR LAS AGENCIAS DE NOTICIAS NORTEAMERICANAS QUE MANEJAN LA INFORMACION COMO MERCANCIA, ASI COMO POR LAS CASAS PRODUCTORAS DE PELICULAS, PROGRAMAS DE TELEVISION, PROGRAMAS DE COMPUTADORAS, ETC., ETC.

LA RESPONSABILIDAD DE ESTA INFLUENCIA RECAE EN NUESTRO GOBIERNO Y EN NUESTROS EMPRESARIOS. LOS EMPRESARIOS PORQUE PREFIEREN PAGAR POR LA INFORMACION QUE YA EXISTE QUE GENERARLA ELLOS DE ACUERDO A LAS NECESIDADES NACIONALES. Y EL GOBIERNO PORQUE NO INVIERTE EN MEDIOS AL SERVICIO DE LA POBLACION, SINO UNICAMENTE EN SU PROPAGANDA POLITICA.

> Por ejemplo, tuve una novia en Pachuca en '97 que estaba convencida, basado en lo que aprendió de la televisión, que la mayoría de los casamientos norteamericanos son "abiertos." Me parece que la influencia cultural de los medios norteamericanos, y también de los mexicanos que reportan sobre las tendencias culturales sensacionales de mi país, causaría un afecto en la juventud mexicana que es perjudicial a la sociedad mexicana.

LO QUE SE LLAMA EL "American way of live" IMPACTA EN MEXICO DE LA SIGUIENTE MANERA:

EN LA CLASE RICA, TOTALMENTE. EN LA CLASE MEDIA, HASTA DONDE SU PODER ECONOMICO, LE PERMITE CONSUMIR TODOS LOS BIENES Y SERVICIOS QUE EN APARECEN EN LOS MENSAJES NORTEAMERICANOS. POR EJEMPLO: TOMAR WHISKY POR CUALQUIER MOTIVO, CONSUMIR ALIMENTOS CHATARRA, TENER SEXO CON MULTIPLES PAREJAS, CONSUMIR DROGA COMO SIMBOLO DE STATUS, USAR ARTICULOS

DESECHABLES AUNQUE CONTAMINEN, ETC.

EN LA CLASE BAJA: COMPRAR ROPA DEPORTIVA (TENIS) SUMAMENTE CARA PARA LAS POSIBILIDADES DE LA FAMILIA, TATUARSE LA PIEL, USAR ARETES Y OTROS ADITAMENTOS EN EL CUERPO.

> Asumo que hay un debate en México entre los líderes religiosos, los políticos, los maestros y los padres acerca de esto.

EN REALIDAD NO HAY UN DEBATE SERIO QUE VAYA A AFECTAR LAS DECISIONES DE LA SOCIEDAD. LA IGLESIA PERDIO EL CONTROL DE LA MORAL PRIVADA HACE TIEMPO Y LOS POLITICOS ESTAN PREOCUPADOS POR CONSERVAR O ACCEDER AL PODER.

CUALQUIER DECLARACION ES MERAMENTE DEMAGOGICA. ES LO MISMO QUE PASO EN ESTADOS UNIDOS CON CLINTON. SU CONDUCTA SEXUAL NO AFECTO REALMENTE SU FUNCION POLITICA, AUNQUE ESO DESEABAN SUS ENEMIGOS POLITICOS.

> Apreciaría magníficamente cualquier pensamientos y sentimientos que usted puede compartir en esto. Pero, si usted está demasiado ocupado dar la cuestión mucha atención, yo entiendo completamente. En este caso tal vez pueda compartir este correspondencia con otros también que pueden aydarme.

YO TE RECOMIENDO QUE ACCESES O TE VINCULES A LA BIBLIOTECA DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE AUSTIN. ELLOS TIENEN MUCHA LITERATURA SOBRE MEXICO Y AMERICA LATINA. SEGURAMENTE ENCONTRARAS ALLI ALGUN ESTUDIO SOBRE EL TEMA QUE ESTAS TRABAJANDO.

BUENA SUERTE.