Salma Valadez Design Editor

Nearly a year ago Netflix announced the development of “Selena: The Series”, a biographical drama series about the late Tejano singer, known as the Queen of Tejano, Selena Quintanilla. The series seems to be intended to honor Selena and her legacy, however, the exploitative nature of its creation cannot be overlooked. At its core, “Selena: The Series” feels more like an exploitative cash grab rather than a commemorative work.

The show aims to depict the successful life and tragic death of the late Tejano singer who was the first female to successfully make it in the originally male-dominated genre of Tejano. Yet the story has already been told in the 1997 biographical film “Selena”, a movie made over 20 years ago. Grant- ed the show could potentially go into slightly more detail about the singer and reach audiences on an international level, it will be the exact same story already depicted through film. Retelling the same story is redundant and further suggests the primary motivation behind its creation was monetary instead of honorary.

In recent years, Selena has surpassed the Hispanic icon she’s known and loved as and morphed into a pop-culture legend. With the MAC makeup line titled “Selena” launched in September of 2016, the Quintanilla’s failed fan-funded $500,000 Selena hologram. Evolution tour titled “Selena the One” in 2018, and the “White Rose” clothing collection inspired by the Tejano singer Forever 21 released in March of 2019 in addition to the new Netflix series, it seems as if the Quintanilla family, who of serve as executive producers of “Selena: The Series”, is abusing Selena’s ascending celebrity status. As opposed to preserving her memory, the series adds to the feeling of perverting Selena’s memory.

Avengers: Endgame was one of the most, if not the most, anticipated movies since the ending of Avengers: Infinity War shocked audiences worldwide. The fourth installment in the Avengers series focuses on the remaining Avengers – Captain America, Black Widow, the Hulk,Thor, Hawkeye, and Iron Man – along with Rocket Raccoon, Nebula, Ant-Man, and Captain Marvel figuring out a way to bring back those they’ve lost during of The Snap and defeating Thanos in an epic final battle.

Amidst the growing excitement many theories regarding character deaths, who would defeat Thanos, and how Thanos would be defeated began circulating through social media platforms. Students also had theories about the film.

“All of the decimated were never gone entirely. They were only trapped in the Soul Stone,” junior Gabriel Munoz said.

Fans began theorizing those who disintegrated during The Snap weren’t dead, but had their souls trapped in the Soul Stone. One popular theory circulating among fans was the Avengers using time travel to defeat Thanos.

“I think that they are either going to use the Time Stone or the Quantum Realm to travel back in time before the snap happened and fix their mistake,” junior Mariam Thomas said.

Also debated was who’d defeat Thanos. Speculation revolved around Captain Marvel, Iron Man, or Captain America defeating Thanos with the Infinity Stones.

“I honestly think Captain America is gonna beat Thanos,” senior Destiny said.

Students also expressed a lot of excitement for the return of their favorite heroes lost in The Snap.

“I’m excited to see Spider-Man alive again. His death scene in Infinity War made me cry a lot and I miss him so much,” senior Gabby Delos Santos said.