Itzel Talavera-Vilchis
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): William Calvo-Quiros
Co-Presenter: Salas, Laura
Research Mentor School/College/Department: American Culture / LSA
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Oral5
Session: Session 3 – 1:40pm – 2:30 pm
Room: Breakout room 4
Authors: William Calvo-Quiros, Itzel Talavera
Presenter: 2
Abstract
Our research centers around the popular “saint†from Mexico: La Santa Muerte (LSM). LSM is a representation of death, that has been associated by the media with Narco Capitalism. Throughout the semester, the team of UROP students has focused on LSM. They have read books and articles, as well as watched films related to the representation of this “saint†and the impact these images have on the treatment and misunderstanding of Latinx communities in the US. We are studying the migration of faith practices on Mexican immigrants to the US. In addition, this project, led by Dr. William Calvo-Quiros, studies how the LGBTQ community approaches the veneration of LSM. It includes oral histories of transgender followers in NYC. The research reveals how religiosity is an important component of many Latino immigrants, and how migration shapes religiosity. In our work, we have also analyzed how the states (Mexico and the United) try to regulate and control the migration of religious practices.
Arts and Humanities, Interdisciplinary
