The Quesada Mexican Grill in Canada tries to claim authenticity (“real Mexican”) by, ironically, invoking Western stereotypes of Mexicans:
Hat tip to Copyranter.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 28
Mickey — June 18, 2010
Western?
Marcos — June 18, 2010
Excuse me, when did Mexico move to the East?
R — June 18, 2010
Pretty obviously a joke, particularly with the Lucha Libre wrestlers. They're trying to say that they're appalled with the Taco-Bell-type, less authentic versions of food that is actually tasty and healthy. (The peppers and avocado in the background are not by accident.)
I've never been there, so I don't know how well they live up to the claim (skeptical of burritos in Toronto), but this is clearly meant to be a commentary on the un-authentic-ness of the two images shown, not an endorsement.
Anonymous — June 18, 2010
Mexico is indeed in the West.
Jenn — June 18, 2010
The sombrero picture is from some Mexican-American war propaganda, isn't it? I don't know, but I do recall that image, and remember that it was manufactured by non-Mexicans. So positing that as "authentic" is a bit odd. Especially since in all my visits to predominately Mexican communities in my state (Arizona) and Mexico itself, I don't recall ever seeing anyone dress like that outside of tourist attractions.
Even though the luchadores are genuinely "authentic" to Mexican culture, I'm not sure if their inclusion is benign. I mean, there's parts of Mexican culture that are distinct from greater American culture, but using that difference to sell a product is bizarre, at best, and othering and trivializing, at worst.
If the ad was a sort of tongue-in-cheek satire by a Mexican restaurant owned by Mexicans who serve authentic or traditional Mexican recipes, I could see how this ad would be a celebration of Mexican culture. But you can't tell by the ad, so I think it comes off as trivializing Mexican culture for the sake of marketing. It's a far more benign campaign than it could be (i.e. if they chose the "lazy Mexican" or "illegal Mexican" or "hypersexualized Mexican" stereotypes), but it still comes off as disrespectful to me. Then again, I'm not Mexican myself (just a white woman with a passing familiarity with Mexican culture, due to the state I live in), so I could be missing quite a lot. Of course, people like me (white people) are probably the primary targets, so maybe not.
bxley — June 18, 2010
Quesada/Quezada is a fairly common family name, but really, that's no proof that the restaurant is owned or run or has anything to do with actual Mexicans. but even if they are, the ads are still, at the very least, problematic.
the first image, the sombrero-and-siesta guy, in particular, is well known in Mexico as an image the stereotype foreigners have of Mexicans. and, I'm sorry to say, Jen, it IS a shorthand for "lazy Mexican", napping against a cactus instead of working the fields for his master, like a good little peon.
that sorta makes me think that it actually could be a joke on stereotypes and how ridiculous they are (here, in particular, since the guy looks like a [white] summer nature hiker that you later wrapped in a zarape and topped with a sombrero).
but if that joke was the intent, it could have been made in a ton of different ways that would be waaaaaay more effective. say, with a restaurant full of ordinary looking, jeans-tees-and-tacos Mexicans weirded out at a güero or two, disguised as ludicrous caricatures, supposedly to fit in this very very authentic restaurant.
but since no indication is made that these stereotypes are false, they reinforce them in the people who don't already know they are. some Mexicans find might them funny because, man, those gringos don't have a clue. But a good deal of non-Mexicans will find them funny because, boy, those Mexicans are weird.
lx — June 18, 2010
I'm fairly sure it is supposed to show a scenario of "fake" Mexicans eating "fake" Mexican food, presumably not at Quesada, where you can have "real" Mexican food that isn't a charactiture of Mexican food. More indications that this isn't to be taken as Quesados - the colour scheme and restaurant outfitting is retro to show that these stereotypes belong in the past, the condiments on the table don't look fresh. I think they're trying to say Quesada apparently is not like this. According to their website they make salsa on site, using fresh ingredients. It looks like they serve there food on Also looks like their sites don't look like the posed picture. Different colour scheme etc. The only thing the same is the picture in the back - maybe intended to provide a counterpart to the fake food they're eating. It's hard to say though, not being familiar with the brand.
But anyway They don't do good enough a job of showing what the "real" version of Mexican food is that they represent. So their joke is likely to be misunderstood and taken for an endorsement of the stereotypes shown in the ad, and that their place is similiarly done up. So in that way it is problematic. Maybe they assume their brand is so strong that everybody already knows that the inside of their shop and food doesn't look like that, but seems like they're wrong.
al oof — June 20, 2010
the restaurant in the ads is unquestionably a quesada restaurant. here are pics of the restaurant from their site.
http://www.quesada.ca/style.html
it has the same art.
so now we can put that defense to rest, right?
rob — June 25, 2010
i think i like the first pic hahhahhahah i love mexico !!!!!!! PROUD TO BE MEXICAN !!!!!!
lyssa — July 12, 2010
Of all the times I went to Mexico, I never saw a man sleeping with a sombrero and a poncho (I never even saw a sombrero or poncho) nor did I see luchadores.
The one thing I agree with is that they're drinking Jarritos.
This just makes me want Taco Bell. I like their lack of authenticity, it's delicious, lol