The Morisco Episodes of Don Quijote (II 54, 63-65) and Contemporary Political Discourse on Immigration: A Comparative Analysis
Subject Area
Spanish Peninsular Studies
Abstract
This study draws a comparison between the political discourse surrounding the Moriscos as portrayed in Part II of Don Quijote (1615) and the political discourse of President Trump concerning immigration in the United States. The generalization of a group of people in literary and political discourse essentially creates an oppositional binary that dehumanizes them. This strategy was used to expel the Moriscos from Spain beginning in 1609 and President Trump is using it today to classify immigrants as deviants. The aim of this paper is to illuminate the importance of literary studies and cultural theory (Foucault, Said, and others) as they relate to contemporary events.
Brief Bio Note
Dr. Groundland is an Associate Professor at Tennessee Tech University where he teaches Spanish language, culture, and literature.
Keywords
Cervantes, Quijote, Moriscos, Immigration
Location
Afternoon Session 1 (PARB 227)
Presentation Year
April 2019
Start Date
4-12-2019 2:15 PM
Embargo
12-14-2018
Recommended Citation
Groundland, Mark, "The Morisco Episodes of Don Quijote (II 54, 63-65) and Contemporary Political Discourse on Immigration: A Comparative Analysis" (2019). South East Coastal Conference on Languages & Literatures (SECCLL). 44.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/seccll/2019/2019/44
The Morisco Episodes of Don Quijote (II 54, 63-65) and Contemporary Political Discourse on Immigration: A Comparative Analysis
Afternoon Session 1 (PARB 227)
This study draws a comparison between the political discourse surrounding the Moriscos as portrayed in Part II of Don Quijote (1615) and the political discourse of President Trump concerning immigration in the United States. The generalization of a group of people in literary and political discourse essentially creates an oppositional binary that dehumanizes them. This strategy was used to expel the Moriscos from Spain beginning in 1609 and President Trump is using it today to classify immigrants as deviants. The aim of this paper is to illuminate the importance of literary studies and cultural theory (Foucault, Said, and others) as they relate to contemporary events.
