January 14, 2009...9:08 am

cultural anthropology: The United States of Mexico

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To fulfill my final few credits, I was enrolled in an International Communications course.  Exciting yes, because international communications is certainly an avenue of my career path I see myself exploring.  However, the structure and focus of this course I knew did not align with my interests.  So, I created my own class.

I’m really excited about this – I’m working under Professor Gabriela Martinez, who specializes in media culture, globalization, and the effects and impacts of the economic, social, cultural and political arena of Latin America.  

So, the course I designed for myself relates to the communication and cultural anthropology of Mexico and the United States.  I am studying the elements that have, and continue to impact the convergence of the cultures of Mexico and the United States in order to develop a more thorough and accurate foundation of knowledge through a variety of perspectives such as: historical, social/cultural, economic and political.  

I started the course with a holistic investigation of globalization trends that have defined history and are shaping international relationships and communication.   Once I have this foundation, I’ll focus my study on how globalization has and is directly affected Mexico, the United States and the communication dynamics between the two countries. 

Pretty exciting, huh??  At least for me! (=

Anyway, I think the most exciting part of the course are the books I’ve selected to read! (anyone else know of my book obsession?)

Tribes by Seth Godin

The World Is Flat by John Friedman

The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens and the Nation by Leo R. Chavez

The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle

“They Take Our Jobs!” and 20 Other Myths About Immigration by Aviva Chomsky

“Ex Mex” by Jorge Castañeda

I also have a list of movies I plan to watch at least a few of:

La Ley de Herodes

Amores Perros

Y Tu Mama Tambien

Nosotros los Pobres

Uds. los Ricos

Pepe el torro

Oh yes, and one of the other greatest things of this course is that it will be conducted and my work will be produced in both Spanish and English.  Perfecto, no??  Creo que si!

 


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