On the Border: Society and Culture between the United States and Mexico

by Andrew Grant Wood (Editor), María S. Arbeláez (Contribution by), Daniel D. Arreola (Contribution by), Juan Cabeza de Baca (Contribution by), Vincent Cabeza de Baca (Contribution by)

Overview

A stunningly beautiful backdrop where cultures meet, meld, and thrive, the U.S.DMexico borderlands is one of the most dynamic regions in the Americas. On the Border explores little-known corners of this fascinating area of the world in a rich collection of essays. Beginning with an exploration of mining and the rise of Tijuana, the book examines a number of aspects of the region's social and cultural history, including urban growth and housing, the mysterious underworld of border-town nightlife, a film noir treatment of the Peteet family suicides, borderlands cuisine, the life of squatters, and popular religion. As stimulating as it is lively, On the Border will spark a new appreciation for the range of social and cultural experiences in the borderlands.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780842051729
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	09/14/2004
Series:	Latin American Silhouettes
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	7.48(w) x 9.16(h) x 0.93(d)

About the Author

Andrew Grant Wood is associate professor of history at the University of Tulsa.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 The Mining Boom in Baja California from 1850 to 1890 and the Emergence of Tijuana as a Border Community Chapter 3 Anticipating the Colonias: Popular Housing in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, 1890–1923 Chapter 4 The Fence and Gates of Ambos Nogales: A Postcard Landscape Exploration Chapter 5 A Note on Homosexuality in Porfirian and Postrevolutionary Northern Mexico Chapter 6 All Night at the Owl: The Social and Political Relations of Mexicali's Red-Light District, 1909–1925 Chapter 7 The "Shame Suicides" and Tijuana Chapter 8 Low-Budget Films for Fronterizos and Mexican Migrants in the United States Chapter 9 Tex-Mex, Cal-Mex, New Mex, or Whose Mex? Notes on the Historical Geography of Southwestern Cuisine Chapter 10 U.S. Ports of Entry on the Mexican Border Chapter 11 Slab City: Squatters' Paradise? Chapter 12 Juan Soldado: Field Notes and Reflections Chapter 13 The Oaxacan Enclaves in Los Angeles: A Photo Essay Chapter 14 How Would You Like an El Camino? U.S. Perceptions of Mexico in Two Recent Hollywood Films

Editorial Reviews

On the Border is an insightful contribution to border studies. In drawing from an interdisciplinary mosaic of academic perspectives and alternative methodologies, Andrew Wood has compiled a volume that begs a fresh look at the development of the social and political relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. Ultimately, the book succeeds in that it encourages even those with a strong background in border studies to reconsider their own perceptions of the region.

Cultural Geographies - Joshua Long

This eclectic collection of essays explores diverse aspects of life on the U.S.–Mexican border, from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. The contributions, many by younger scholars and based on solid research, expand and enrich our understanding of life along the border between Mexico and the United States. The collection is also outstanding for the diverse disciplinary and methodological perspectives of the authors, who are from the fields of history, anthropology, and geography. The essays are well-written, engaging, and nicely illustrated with many historic photographs, postcards, maps, and film posters. This collection is a significant advance in border scholarship through its exploration of important but poorly understood aspects of border reality.

Paul Ganster

On the Border is an exciting and wide-ranging compilation of the most recent and innovative research in interdisciplinary border studies from both the United States and Mexico. It will be extremely useful in a number of courses dealing with border studies, Chicano studies, immigration, and global studies.

Mario T. Garcia

On the Border is an insightful contribution to border studies. In drawing from an interdisciplinary mosaic of academic perspectives and alternative methodologies, Andrew Wood has compiled a volume that begs a fresh look at the development of the social and political relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. Ultimately, the book succeeds in that it encourages even those with a strong background in border studies to reconsider their own perceptions of the region.
— Joshua Long, University of Kansas

Cultural Geographies

On the Border is an insightful contribution to border studies. In drawing from an interdisciplinary mosaic of academic perspectives and alternative methodologies, Andrew Wood has compiled a volume that begs a fresh look at the development of the social and political relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. Ultimately, the book succeeds in that it encourages even those with a strong background in border studies to reconsider their own perceptions of the region.--Joshua Long, University of Kansas "Cultural Geographies "

On the Border is an exciting and wide-ranging compilation of the most recent and innovative research in interdisciplinary border studies from both the United States and Mexico. It will be extremely useful in a number of courses dealing with border studies, Chicano studies, immigration, and global studies.--Mario T. Garcia, University of California, Santa Barbara

This eclectic collection of essays explores diverse aspects of life on the U.S.-Mexican border, from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. The contributions, many by younger scholars and based on solid research, expand and enrich our understanding of life along the border between Mexico and the United States. The collection is also outstanding for the diverse disciplinary and methodological perspectives of the authors, who are from the fields of history, anthropology, and geography. The essays are well-written, engaging, and nicely illustrated with many historic photographs, postcards, maps, and film posters. This collection is a significant advance in border scholarship through its exploration of important but poorly understood aspects of border reality.--Paul Ganster, San Diego State University

From the Publisher