The Mexico-U.S. Border

The Mexico-U.S. border is regularly featured in the news; it is the setting for countless novels, T.V. shows, and films; and it looms large in the social imaginary of people living in the U.S., Mexico, and many other parts of the world. This course takes an in-depth and critical look at the kinds of narratives and images that are created about the border and borderlands, including the natural environment, migrants, residents, and state agents. How have these powerful stories contributed to the policies and material interventions that have shaped the Mexico-U.S. border over the years? How do the images many people have of the borderlands compare to life on the ground? Why does it matter what words we use to describe migrants? And what might be the social and political impact of telling different stories about migrants and creating different images of the border?

Go here to see and download my syllabus for this course.