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: Hardback
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 implemented, 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, presenting multiple perspectives and following non-linear plotlines. Other examples, such as the short stories collected in "¡Basta! 100 mujeres contra la violencia de gÉnero" (2013), also showcase the richness of multiple perspectives.

Few scholars have explored the intersection of cultural production and legal texts in contexts like Mexico, where extreme violence coexists with a high number of human rights laws. "Unlawful Violence" is a groundbreaking project that seeks to measure 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 project also delves into debates about these laws in the Mexican house of representatives and senate, as well as the 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 individuals and communities in navigating a legal system that may not always provide effective protection and justice. It also underscores the importance of cultural production in shaping perceptions and attitudes towards violence, and the role that literature can play in challenging dominant narratives and promoting social change.

In conclusion, Mexico's struggle with violence is a multifaceted and complex issue that requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted response. While the implementation of laws and constitutional amendments is crucial, it is equally important to recognize the role of cultural production in shaping perceptions and attitudes towards violence. By engaging with literature and other forms of cultural expression, we can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals and communities in Mexico and work towards building a more peaceful and just society.

Dimension: 203 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780826504456