La Frontera:

An exploration of the disconnectedness between the history and cultural memory of the US - Mexico border with a focus on the period between 1821 - 1854. In 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain; in 1854 relinquished its last geographical territory to the United States. The work examines three case studies (Texas, California and Arizona) to explore the links between historical narrative and cultural memory through an examination of cultural artifacts such as literature, film and TV, public memorials and festivals. The purpose of the study is to apply the research findings to an exploration of the contemporary political framework of the US - Mexico borderlands.