Date of Award

4-30-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Liberal Studies

College

College of Humanities and Fine Arts

First Advisor

Lora Pitman

Second Advisor

Farrah Hersh

Third Advisor

Shari Orisich

Abstract

This work analyzes the ways in which la narcocultura is represented in films about Mexican drug trafficking through the lens of gender, religion, and law enforcement. The four selected films Savages (2012), Heli (2013), Sicario (2015), and Emilia Pérez (2024) are used to assess how stereotypical images of the Mexican narco world are consumed by the public. The aim of this work is to bring attention to potential misrepresentations within the Mexican drug trafficking world. By exploring the portrayal of gender, religion, and law enforcement, this work highlights the ways in which filmmakers perpetuate and reinforce damaging stereotypes. The consumption and acceptance of these films underscores how audiences interact with these representations, ultimately shaping the cultural image of drug-related issues.

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