1. What is the role of the concept of mestizaje in Gloria Anzaldúa’s writings? 2. How does Anzaldúa’s concept of borderland departs from traditional views of the border? 3.In La Bestia, Mexico is presented as a buffer state between the US and Central America. What is the role played by Mexico in the US immigration policies according to the documentary film? 4. Choose an example of success story and of failure in achieving the American Dream from Sin nombre, La Bestia and Balseros. 5. In Style Wars, we are confronted with the beginning of the end of graffiti as a vibrant movement in NYC. How do you interpret the appropriation of graffiti aesthetics by the art world? 6. What are the reasons why in your view the political establishment and part of NY society were so obsessed with cracking down on graffiti? 7. In Los Sures, women are described implicitly as the backbone of the community. Reflect on that leadership position in regards to Marta. 8. Choose and reflect on an example of gentrification described in one of the documentary films that makes up Living Los Sures. 9. The Brief Wondrous Life seems to be as much a novel about Oscar as it is about Yunior, the narrative voice. Despite his constant bullying of Oscar, how is Yunior changed and influenced by him? 10. After the death of Oscar, Lola affirms that “Ten million Trujillos is all we [Dominicans] are” (324). How is this statement relevant for an interpretation of Díaz’s critique of Dominican culture? 11. How does the character of Michelle reflect the emerging Latino Culture of the Southwest. 12. How does the figure of the Railroad Killer in Norte connect with anti-Mexican racism and xenophobia in the novel?
