Adventures into Mexico: American Tourism beyond the Border

(Paperback)

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Moving beyond the tequila-soaked clichs of Mexican tourism, this multifaceted book explores the influence and experiences of Americans in Mexico since World War II. The authors trace Mexico's growing role as an important refuge for Americans seeking not only sun and fun but also an alternative cultural and social model. And on the other side of the border, Mexican citizens and politicians have responded in creative and unexpected ways to growing numbers of migrants from their northern neighbor.

Delving into the rich and varied worlds of political exiles, students, art dealers, retiree/artist colonies, and tourist zones, this work illustrates why large numbers of Americans have been irresistibly drawn to Mexico for the past sixty years. Specialists in literature, anthropology, history, and geography bring their unique perspectives to the stories of both short- and long-term migrants. Together their essays illuminate the complex goals and impact of American tourism, offering a fascinating interpretation to all those interested in modern Mexican history, border studies, tourism, and retirement in Mexico.

Contributions by: Diana Anhalt, Dina M. Berger, Nicholas Dagen Bloom, Michael Chibnik, Drewey Wayne Gunn, Janet Henshall Momsen, Rebecca M. Schreiber, Rebecca Torres, David Truly, and Richard W. Wilkie

Reviews

This anthology explores the varying and complex interactions between American guests and their host communities. . . . Useful to scholars investigating cultural and social relations between Americans and Mexicans south of the border. * H-Travel *
This collection should be useful to scholars investigating cultural and social relations between Americans and Mexicans south of the border. * H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online *
Adventures into Mexico brings together a variety of materials useful for the cultural study of U.S. tourism in Mexico. Scholarly analyses examine the rise of modern tourism in Mexico City and coastal beach resorts, the tourist market for Mexican folk art, and the establishment of retirement colonies in Ajijic, Chapala, and San Miguel de Allende. Other chapters move toward the personal memoir, recounting the experiences of scholars and intellectuals. Moving between the personal and the academic, the chapters in Adventures into Mexico map out the emergence of Mexico as a destination for tourists and travelers from the United States. The chapters will serve anthropologists, geographers, sociologists, historians, and practitioners of literary and cultural studies interested in United States tourism from the 1940s to the present and especially the role that tourism has played in shaping modern Mexico. -- Danny J. Anderson, University of Kansas
North Americans first came to Mexico in force in 1846 as military invaders. Today, millions flood in each year as tourists, while thousands more live in Mexico as permanent or semi-permanent expatriates. Surprisingly, this vast human tide, bringing citizens of the world's wealthiest, most powerful nation into at least fleeting contact with a very different, highly complex, and far poorer society, has received scant scholarly attention. This fine collection of subtle and sophisticated essays goes a long way toward remedying that neglect. Highly recommended. -- Paul S. Boyer, University of Wisconsin

Author Bio

Nicholas Dagen Bloom is assistant professor of American history at the New York Institute of Technology and has written extensively on urban affairs.