Amanda Rodriguez

Wolf Humanities Center Undergraduate Fellow

20242025 Forum on Keywords

Amanda Rodriguez

History of Art, History

CAS, 2026

Amanda is a junior majoring in Art History, History, and minoring in Latin American studies. Calling the southern Texas/Mexico border her home, Amanda is interested in her family's oral history and its place in the broader spand of the regions political and military legacy. Through her research, she takes pride in sharing personal stories and cultural heritage from her community. Ultimately, a goal of her research is to produce scholarship that articulates and contextualizes the experiences of those in Texas's rural hispanic communties, as it is long overshadowed by other narratives.Outside of her research, Amanda can be found at her workstudy in the art history department, hanging out with friends, and playing video games.

Border: Unraveling Narratives along the Rio Grande

The Rio Grande, demarcating the U.S./Mexico border, is more than a geographical feature; it now embodies division and fortification, reflecting a historical process of weaponization. This proposed project traces the term Border, as it has evolved in the political perceptions of the Rio Grande. Through the gathering of historical testimonies, from its portrayal as a battleground in the Spanish-Ameican War to leisure activities in the 1960s, this project will highlight select narratives and uncover how border enforcement and economic development have reshaped relationships with the river, both visually and temporally. Amid headline focus on violence and political tensions, following the term "border" in this context reveals a deeper perspective that is essential for our understanding of complex histories and ultimately, how we may address it now.