Criminology 120

Introduction:

The video Blood In Blood Out demonstrated the Cultural Deviance Theory as well as the Control Theory within their two main characters. Miklo throughout the video was presenting the Cultural Deviance Theory, while Paco was later presented to demonstrate the Control Theory. Thus, this film took place in East Los Angeles in a barrio. A barrio is what a low income neighborhood is called in Spanish.

Living in a barrio definitely means joining a gang. A gang can be identified “…as an age-graded peer group that exhibits some permanence and establishes a sense of boundaries…” (Simi, Pete, Smith, Lowell & Reeser, Ann M.2008). Joining a gang seems to be a tradition within the families living in a barrio. The need to belong to a group tends to be a necessity because everyone sticks together and defends their gang. Being in a gang is usually having to be “gang-identified territory, style, and oppositional practices such as fighting or other criminal activity” (Simi, Pete, Smith, Lowell & Reeser, Ann M.2008).

Blood In Blood Out was a movie about two cousins that were reunited to live together. Miklo and Paco were members of the gang Vatos Locos; along with Cruz, Paco’s brother. Miklo had been apart and grew up with different mindsets and values from his cousins. As we seen in the video they form a bond and did stick together while in their gang. They watched out for each other and defended their blood. However, a tragedy happens that changes their bond for life. They become distant and apart from each other. Thus, the video also shows the significance of having power and the tasks that one is willing to do in order to accomplish the power and respect.

Blood In Blood Out:

In 1972, Miklo moved back to his mother’s house because he did not have a stable relationship with his father. His father lived in Las Vegas and was presented as an Anglo-Saxon. Miklo’s father was a racist man that was even racist towards his workers and his child’s...