Milagro Beanfield War essays

Milagro Beanfield War essays The Milagro Beanfield War chronicles how local, traditional cultures that are deemed incompatible with modernization. This is seen in the tensions between Chicano communities in Milagro, New Mexico and the land development corporation that wants to turn the community into a resort community and golf course. When Joe Mondragon irrigates his makeshift beanfield with water diverted from a stream that "belongs" to developer Ladd Devine, the farmer/handyman becomes a catalyst that brings these The conflict theorists offer a good framework for a sociological analysis of the events depicted in The Milagro Beanfield War. The conflict perspective sees society as being composed of different groups with contradictory interests. Conflict theorists are critical of functionalists, who believe that these disparate interests can be resolved amicably. Instead, theorists like Karl Marx have argued that ruling class interests will come to dominate over the needs of others. Members of the ruling class would use all the means at their disposal in order to assure their interests are served, including money, political connections and other social institutions. This is true, even when these interests are detrimental to other segments of society. In the case of The Milagro Beanfield War, the ruling class interests are represented by Ladd and his cadre of developers. Rounding out the cast of ruling class interests are Ladd's ditzy wife Flossie, state police officer and hired gun Montana and even the incompetent state governor. Because of his wealth and political connections, Ladd has Montana at his disposal to keep Milagro residents in line. At various times throughout the film, even the Milagro town mayor and the town sheriff seem to be in Devine's pocket, afraid or reluctant to help their own constituents. The conflict perspective believes that it would be useless for ...