Co-presented by Villa Albertine in Texas, the Consulate of France in Monterrey (Mexico) and the IFAL – Instituto francés de América latina
Food and beverages will be available for purchase throughout the evening.
The synergies between the Texan and Mexican cultures constantly lead to new creations in various disciplines. From the beloved Texan Mexican food and Latino music to literature and cinema, the mutual influences become a fruitful source of inspiration and creativity. Throughout history, these two nations have formed a common cultural sphere, shared a language, traditions and artistic heritage, thus blurring the lines set by political borders. What does it mean to be Mexican – Texan– Tejano – or Latina today? Are these definitions still applicable in our increasingly globalized world? How do Texan-Mexican cultures find a balance between the concepts of authenticity on the one hand and multiple identities on the other? Writers, journalists, researchers, and a chef share their personal journeys between these two cultures.
Art and literature give Latino creators a chance through their creative process to express emotions and reflect concepts such as dual identity, mixed culture, gender etc. It also gives them the opportunity to share a message and communicate visually and sensorially what it means to be an artist or a writer living in two cultures. What are the specificities of Latino artistic and literary creations? How do cultural institutions in the US accompany and promote this process, and how is it received by the public?
The Rio Grande River stretches over 2000 miles and is the natural border between the US and Mexico from El Paso, to Brownsville, Texas. The river supports wildlife and is the primary source of water for consumption and agriculture of the population along the border. Industrial, agricultural, and other contaminants have been responsible for major pollution of the river which has led to a considerable reduction of wildlife species and affected the health of its inhabitants.
This debate offers a broad analysis of scientific, political and socio-economic interrelated factors explaining the degradation of the Rio Grande River and discusses the sustainable solutions to mitigate the problems and to restore the ecosystem.
In a context marked by conspiracies and fake news endangering our democracies, journalists, digital content strategists, publishers, and researchers will address the way the same information can be perceived by different communities. Which cultural factors help analyze the different media usage and diffusion of information by specific groups? In what ways can traditional media and social media adopt new approaches to tackle the sharing and spread of misinformation?