ABSTRACT

One of the addicts from real life has a photograph of the gang, nicely framed, hanging in pride of place in his flat. In Blood in Blood Out the artist and, later on, heroin addict Cruz paints a picture of the gang. There is an obvious parallel between Enrique’s words and the film world. There are no great differences. In Enrique and Crispin’s world their own experience and that of the film world are merged. The strategy of watching each other’s backs is not actually necessary, but serves to fulfil two functions. The first is that the unity of the group is strengthened; they show each other that they are ready to sacrifice for each other. Each time they cover for each other, the social bonds are strengthened. The second is to create a daily environment that is as action-rich as possible. The ritual dramatizes the daily environment, and makes it like the fictitious world.