2. Cruz often uses terms or names we generally use for technology or media to describe people. For example, when the group of "homeys" goes into the theater at the beginning of the story, they "enter unformatted." What form of technology does this suggest and what then can be assumed about the "homeys" as they go into the theater? One of the characters is named "Sportin’ News." What reason does the narrator give for this nickname? At one point in the story, a "stereo-type" passes in a car. Name at least two ways in which this could be read. What do these names suggest about the relationship between humans and technology and the media?
3. Characters in this story talk to the narrator about the story: "‘Nice sexy story with a feminine/feminist [sic] ending, but what makes you think I'd believe some hype like that,’ the drunk asks." Later, the drunk says, "Your story stinks." How does the narrator calling attention to story-making in this way change the reader’s perspective on the story? Is one ever sure what's "really" happening? What does the story imply about the relationship between story-making and reality?
4. The narrator says, "In the ghetto, we are nothing but vampires, sleepwalkers created by European folk-lore! In fact, my black mama was Harriet Tubman, you fraidy cats! She was the one responsible for putting me in a coffin in the first place." What does this suggest about the "stories" being told to and about African-Americans in "European folk-lore"?