The “Peers and Context” section uses similar projects to compare and contrast the main themes throughout “Border Odyssey“. Relating similar projects can bring out different perspectives of a story. There is an ongoing movement from the south to come into the U.S. by the Mexico border. This is significant because the project can be valuable for current events. Understanding the struggles from both sides of the border, can be analyzed for better context. Feel free to browse the other projects to gain a wider knowledge on the Mexican border topic.
Borderlands Archives Cartography
Founded by Maira E. Álvarez and Sylvia A. Fernández, this project maps the border of Mexico and the United States with added cartographic features. The interactive map shows detailed points of the border during the nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries, along with facts at each spot. These fact categories come from published newspapers and can include common languages and cities, the initial and final date, and which country wrote the article. Using texts from the past, it can give viewers an idea of what the border atmosphere was before the current tension. Community was a huge part of the project and the articles strengthen that belief. If the communities were separated across the border, that lead to devastation for anyone living in those areas.
The “Torn Apart” project is a current database surrounding the struggles of immigrations between Mexico and the United States. Since the project was created in 2018, there is updated information and accurate data. The project focuses on the political aspects of immigration and the fight at our border. Money and politics are analyzed while discovering the truth about the Mexican border. The strong economic influence is what drives this project’s facts. The map shows the U.S. ICE money and how it corresponds to a representative of that state. Each person has their chosen party and who the biggest profiteer was. Depending on the dollar amount of how much ICE receives and the political party, the congressional district is color coordinated. The deeper the shade, the more money was awarded.
Comparison Between “Border Odyssey”
The “Border Odyssey” project is centered on stories of Mexican immigrants. With each location on the map, there are pictures and a description or story about the immigrant. Compared to the others, this project is more personal by the actual perspectives of people. “Borderland Archives Cartography” is based on historic newspaper clippings, so it does not give current news. While the “Torn Apart” data is very recent, the information is politic and economic based.