Rodriguez 1

Cynthia Rodriguez
English 113B
Professor Lawson
Project Space Final Draft
May 11, 2016
Word Count:1,344

La Placita Olvera
La Placita Olvera is a place that is located on Olvera Street in Los Angeles. This place is
very popular and is known as the Mexican Marketplace. It acknowledges the culture of
Mexican religion and it focuses a lot on Mexican background. Everything that goes on in this
place or is sold relates to Mexico. There are plenty of sources that are linked to La Placita
Olvera; and have backgrounds that are related to the Mexican culture. The people that are mostly
seen at this place are Mexicans and if not they have some Mexican cultural history. People that
dedicate their time to this place are also Mexican and are there to represent the pride in their
culture and spread the joy in the air.
La Placita Olvera was built in the 1930s. The place is surrounded by stores, stands, a
church, and a museum. These sources that surround Placita Olvera are a big impact to the market
place. Visitors and tourists visit the sources while visiting the market place itself. This place is
usually surrounded by Mexicans and Latinos. Placita Olvera is a clean and welcoming
environment. That welcomes people of all races, but the common race that is seen are Mexicans
and Latinos. The stores at this place sell things such as sombreros, the Mexican Huaraches
(sandals), and t-shirts that show Mexican pride. The pride that surrounds this place makes it
welcoming and peaceful to tourists.

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Furthermore, La Placita Olvera dedicates a lot of their space to Mexican culture. Any
store or stand that people see is covered with something that has a Mexican background to it.
There are some stands that sell food cooked by Mexicans. Everything there will have somebody
reminisce of Mexico. People call this place the Mexican Marketplace because there are stores
and restaurants with delicious Mexican food. Every owner that owns a stand, store, and
restaurant in this place is Mexican. The owners at this place are proud to have a business at this
place because of how much dedication and pride the place has to Mexican culture. The owners
look happy when talking to the customers and while showing off their Mexican products.
Additionally, this place is a welcoming place with security. There are securities that are
seen after every block and surround the plaza to make sure it is a safe environment for families to
enjoy. The center of the plaza is where the entertainment happens. The entertainment that occurs
at this place is Aztec dancing, and singing. It is not just any ordinary singing. It is singing and
dancing that relates to the Mexican Culture. The singing that happens is done by two men, one
holding a microphone singing, and the other playing an instrument. The songs that the man sings
are from Antonio Aguilar whom was a big representation to Mexican Culture, and his songs
spoke about his Mexican background. The songs are also meant to remind people about the
culture of Mexico. Antonio Aguilar died in 2007 and his music still lives and is being
appreciated. The Placita Olvera acknowledges Antonios music so much, that there is a statue of
Antonio Aguilar at Placita Olvera. Furthermore with entertainment, Aztec dancing is appreciated
and Mexican people had made Aztec dancing a way to preserve their culture and have made it
available for anybody who is interested in exploring their cultural history. What most people do
not know is that Aztec dancing is a form of steps that is lead to goals of praying and concentrate
the meditation of the movement that signifies something that is being represented in soul of the

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air. Aztec dancing is steps similar to prayers that are performed to worship the sun god. It is a
religious tradition that still lives and is being represented. Indeed, Aztec dancing is very
entertaining to see but not only that, it also tells a cultural history to Mexican culture.
All kinds of ethnicities and nationalities are seen visiting this place. Placita Olvera has
people of all kinds of ethnicities visiting, and the visitors are eye catching; some people are an
outsider or an insider. An insider would be somebody who is comfortable with the surrounding
and knows what is going on and is familiar with the culture background. The insiders would be
Mexicans and people who dont ask questions about the foods or products because they aware of
their surroundings. Mexicans are spotted everywhere and know who Antonio Aguilar is because
of their culture. People who dont have Mexican backgrounds, arent aware of the Mexican
culture, or are visiting this place for the first time would be considered outsiders. Outsiders
would be people who question who Antonio Aguilar is because they arent aware of who is.
Outsiders also ask what types of foods are sold at this place and what the food contains of; they
may act fascinated about everything in this place. This place is meant to appreciate and recognize
products, foods, music, antiques, and everything that is popular or relates to Mexico. Some
things are transported from Mexico and others are made by people in the United States. Only
somebody who has visited or was raised in Mexico would be able to notice the difference on
whether it is made in the U.S or not. Things that are made in Mexico have more detail and
texture to it rather than if it is made in the U.S. Whether the things are made in U.S or in Mexico
the owners that are selling it know how to properly talk to people about how the products are
worn or represented in the Culture.
This place presents itself with Mexicos green, white, and red flag hung on the posts; and
pictures of Dia de Los Muertos, that is day of the dead in Spanish. In Mexico, Dia de Los

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Muertos is celebrated and people dress up and decorate their face too look like a skeleton to
represent those that are dead. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray and
remember their friends and loved ones who have died, and support them on their spiritual
journey. There are also stores inside Placita Olvera that sells things that relate to Dia de los
Muertos such as small skeleton figures, candles of all colors and they even have altars that are
presented of family members and friends who have died of insiders that have visited the store.
Some stores allow altars and others dont, but the ones that do are the ones that are visited the
most by outsiders because they are interested in reading the stories and appreciation of those that
are dead.
Placita Olvera is a place that is very well known and visited by people of all ethnicities.
The museum acknowledges the mural that is in Placita Olvera the mural was made and dedicated
to David Alfaro Siqueiros. He came to the U.S. and tried to fight for equal rights and stop racism.
He was Mexican himself and was only in Los Angeles for six months and managed to finish
three murals. One of the most popular one is presented inside the museum thats in Placita
Olvera. The sources and surroundings around Placita Olvera are very important and carry a lot of
important cultural information that are involved within the Mexican culture.
Overall, Placita Olvera is a welcoming place that is surrounded by Mexican Culture and
focuses on the Mexican Tradition. It is surrounded by everything that will have someone think of
Mexico and its cultural history. The people that work within this place are Mexican as well. The
people that work at this place focus on keeping everything dedicated to Mexico including the
food, the clothing, the entertainment, and the music. The vibe in this place makes you feel so
alive due to the smell of the food and the energy of the music. This place is welcoming and
informative about Mexicos Culture that is why people enjoy visiting it.