Wealthy families, the army, and the church controlled to government and did little to improve life for the poor. Cities are a combination of old and new. Poor people build homes of scraps of wood, metal, or other found materials. Many lack electricity and running water. Villagers are poor.
Homes are often cement block, sheet metal, straw, or clay.
Narrow streets lead to a central plaza with churches, shops, and government buildings. The marketplace is where clothes, food, baskets, and pottery are sold and traded. Literature includes modern writers like Carlos Fuentes and Octavio Paz who describe daily life. Music and Dance - traditional Mexican music is played by mariachi bands with a singer, two guitars, two horn players, and a bass player. They often wear sombreros .