Unlawful Violence: Mexican Law and Cultural Production

Violence has increased in Mexico since 2000, with 23,000 murders recorded in 2016 and 29,168 in 2017. Contemporary Mexican literature grapples with this splintered reality through non-linear stories from multiple perspectives, often told through shifts in time. Unlawful Violence measures fictional accounts of human rights against new laws that include constitutional amendments to reform legal proceedings, laws that protect children, laws that condemn violence against women, and laws that protect migrants and indigenous peoples.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2022
Publisher: Vanderbilt University Press

Since 2000, Mexico has experienced a concerning surge in violence, with staggering statistics revealing a staggering 23,000 murders recorded in 2016 and a further increase to 29,168 in 2017. This alarming trend reflects the complex and multifaceted challenges the country faces, including drug trafficking, organized crime, and government corruption. In response, numerous laws and constitutional amendments have been introduced, aimed at addressing these issues and promoting justice and security. However, the abundance of these legal frameworks is mirrored in Mexico's fragmented cultural production of the same period. Contemporary Mexican literature has taken on the task of grappling with this splintered reality through non-linear stories from multiple perspectives, often told through shifts in time. Novels like Jorge Volpi's "Una novela criminal" (2018) and Julián Herbert's "La casa del dolor ajeno" (2015) exemplify this approach, taking multiple perspectives and following non-linear plotlines. Other examples, such as the short stories in "¡Basta! 100 mujeres contra la violencia de gÉnero" (2013), also present multiple perspectives.

Few scholars have compared cultural production and legal texts in situations like Mexico, where extreme violence coexists with a high number of human rights laws. "Unlawful Violence" is a groundbreaking study that measures fictional accounts of human rights against new laws that include constitutional amendments to reform legal proceedings, laws that protect children, laws that condemn violence against women, and laws that protect migrants and indigenous peoples. The book also explores debates about these laws in the Mexican house of representatives and senate, as well as interactions between the law and the Mexican public.

Through its comprehensive analysis, "Unlawful Violence" sheds light on the complex dynamics between law, culture, and society in Mexico. It highlights the challenges faced by both the legal system and the Mexican public in combating violence and promoting justice. The book provides valuable insights into the ways in which cultural production can contribute to the broader discourse on human rights and social change, and how legal texts can shape and influence cultural narratives.

In conclusion, Mexico's struggle with violence is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted response. While the introduction of laws and constitutional amendments is a crucial step, it is equally important to engage with the cultural production that reflects and shapes the country's reality. "Unlawful Violence" is a valuable contribution to this ongoing conversation, offering a unique perspective on the ways in which law, culture, and society interact in Mexico.

Dimension: 203 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780826504449