Date of Award

2024-08-01

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

English Rhetoric and Composition

Advisor(s)

Lucía L. Durá

Abstract

This dissertation explores the acoustic ecologies of the Juárez-El Paso border, investigating how soundscapes shape and reflect the cultural identity, sense of belonging, and sense of place within this unique transnational region. Guided by the theoretical lenses of belonging (Kohut, Tajfel, Turner, Hooks), sense of place (Feld & Basso), and habitus (Bourdieu), the research takes a phenomenological approach, informed by Merleau-Ponty's concepts of perception and Ceraso's notion of embodied listening. The study analyzes soundscape samples through Krause's categories of biophonies, geophonies, and anthropophonies, uncovering how these sounds contribute to the development of Latino identity and cultural cohesion in the borderlands.Focusing on the historical, sociocultural, pedagogical, artistic, and environmental dimensions of sound, the research reveals how these auditory experiences create a shared sense of identity and community among border residents, despite the sociopolitical divisions that separate them. By examining specific sound events, such as linguistic dimensions and code-switching in Lucha Libre poetry, cultural events, street vendors, and singers, the study highlights the historical, aesthetic, and symbolic values that these sounds carry, demonstrating their role as markers of resilience, transformation, and sonic cultural memory. The findings suggest that soundscapes in the Juárez-El Paso border are not merely background noise but are integral to understanding the complexities of border identity and belonging. The dissertation contributes to the field of Rhetoric laying the foundations for a specific approach in Border Sonic Rhetorics, offering a nuanced understanding of how sounds mediate social interactions and cultural identities in border regions. This work emphasizes the importance of including the acoustic dimension in border studies, providing a framework for future research on the role of sound in shaping the lived experiences of border communities.

Language

en

Provenance

Recieved from ProQuest

File Size

198 p.

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

José Manuel Flores Fuentes

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