Border Tunnels: A Media Theory of the U.S.-Mexico Underground

Juan Llamas-Rodriguez's book "Border Tunnels" examines the representation of border tunnels in media, arguing that we cannot properly address border issues without understanding the fraught relationship between representation and reality. He reveals that every media text about border tunnels takes a position on the politics of the border, and offers examples to teach readers how to look differently at the border as it is commonly presented in various forms of media.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2023
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

The representation of the U.S.-Mexico border in media is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive analysis. In his book "Border Tunnels," Juan Llamas-Rodriguez delves into the various technologies, institutional politics, narrative tropes, and aesthetic decisions that shape how border tunnels are portrayed across different forms of media.

Llamas-Rodriguez argues that we cannot properly address border issues without fully understanding the fraught relationship between their representation and reality. He reveals that every media text about border tunnels, whether meant for entertainment, cable news, video games, or speculative design, implicitly takes a position on the politics of the border.

Through detailed examples and analysis, "Border Tunnels" teaches readers how to look differently at the border as it is commonly presented in various forms of media, including ABC's "Nightline" and CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360º." The book explores how creative decisions in the production, promotion, and distribution of these media texts either emphasize or downplay issues such as border security, racial dynamics of migration, and sustainability of the borderlands.

By focusing on tunnels as a specific example, "Border Tunnels" helps us to understand how media representations can influence all kinds of audiences, even those physically near the border. The book contributes to our understanding of this pressing social issue and advances our understanding of the U.S.-Mexico border in all of its complexity and precariousness.

In conclusion, "Border Tunnels" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the representation of the U.S.-Mexico border in media. By analyzing the technologies, institutional politics, narrative tropes, and aesthetic decisions that shape media representations, Llamas-Rodriguez provides a deeper understanding of this complex issue and its implications for our society.

Weight: 340g
Dimension: 216 x 140 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517914295