Scholarly Article Review

 

Scholarly Article Review

 

A Reflection of: Beyond Surveillance and Moonscapes: An Alternative Imaginary of the U.S.–Mexico Border Wall

 

Beyond Surveillance and Moonscapes is a great article and photo essay explaining how the mainstream media has represented the U.S. –Mexican border verses their first hand experience visiting the border in Texas.  I really enjoyed the visual representation and descriptions, it really gives a much more in-depth looks at the lives of people living near the border.

The article makes a valid argument of how the U.S. – Mexico border is portrayed in national publications; “Time’s and National Geographic’s otherworldly representation of the border alongside its militarized component, one can argue, reinforces a perceived need for the border wall while simultaneously de-emphasizing the impacts of a border wall” (Dorsey & Diaz-Barriga 2010).  How mainstream news and media depict the southern border affects how people are treated across the United States, they give an unfair account of the border communities that perpetuates racism towards Mexicans, Immigrants and anyone who is perceived to have crossed into the United States from the Southern border.

What this article and photo essay capture is what Time’s and National Geographic was missing, the human aspect of the border and the way the wall affects the communities. “ The U.S.–Mexico borderlands thrive not only as deserts but also as binational communities, wildlife refuges, and nodes of hemispheric trade” (Dorsey & Diaz-Barriga 2010) . Learning how the construction of the border wall will cut communities in half, prevent binational celebrations and remove land access for communities members was even more eye-opening to the way border policies and the way the border is portrayed to the country. “Media attention on the U.S.–Mexico border wall primarily focuses on the border as a desolate site of federal surveillance and often neglects the ways that border residents conceptualize and live its meanings and possibilities” (Dorsey & Diaz-Barriga 2010).

This article is important because we need a fair representation of our border communities so more people can see how they are a thriving part of our country and should be celebrated not demonized. Please take the time to read and share Beyond Surveillance and Moonscapes: An Alternative Imaginary of the U.S.–Mexico Border Wall by Margaret E. Dorsey and Miguel Diaz-Barriga.

 

Works Cited

·         DORSEY, & DIAZ-BARRIGA, M. (2010). Beyond Surveillance and Moonscapes: An Alternative Imaginary of the U.S.-Mexico Border Wall. Visual Anthropology Review, 26(2), 128–135. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1548-7458.2010.01073.x