Category Archives: US Southwest

Winter Break in the Southwest: Mission San Xavier del Bac

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Dr. Rebecca Bender

This year over Winter Break I decided it would be smart to spend a few weeks in warmer weather – last year’s frigid Iowa winter made for a rather tiring “Spring” semester. We decided to visit Tucson, Arizona, to spend … Continue reading →

Posted in History, US Southwest | Tagged architecture, Arizona, catholicism, colonialism, Mexico, Native Americans, San Xavier, San Xavier mission, Tucson | 2 Comments

Santa Muerte, the Alluring and Controversial Folk Saint of Death

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Dr. Rebecca Bender

While the Virgin of Guadalupe is perhaps the most iconic and ubiquitous of Mexican Catholic imagery, Santa Muerte, or Saint Death, is quickly becoming a powerful cultural force herself. Though Santa Muerte is not an officially sanctioned saint, having been … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, US Southwest | Tagged catholicism, crime, culture, death, La virgen de Guadalupe, LGBT, Mexico, narcoculture, queer, religion, santa muerte | 4 Comments

La Llorona: Incorporating Latino Studies into Hispanic Literature

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Dr. Rebecca Bender

If you grew up in the southwest United States, if you can claim Hispanic heritage, or if you’ve lived in a community with a distinct Hispanic population, you are likely quite familiar with the numerous legends of “La Llorona” (The … Continue reading →