Dr. Esther Alarcón Arana
- Associate professor
Areas of Expertise
- Contemporary Spanish cultural studies, with special interest in Spanish feminism and an anti-racist perspective.
Education
- M.A. in English, University of Pennsylvania (2001)
- M.A. in Hispanic studies, University of Pennsylvania (2011)
- Ph.D. in Hispanic studies, University of Pennsylvania (2015)
What's My Why?
Teaching has been my passion since I was in middle school. Having great role models inspired me to be part of this profession and I hope to be a good example for students professionally and personally. Teaching Spanish language and culture allows me to provide students with language skills to better their chances in the global job market and offer tools for critical thinking that will help them become merciful and just world citizens. Through cinema, music, etc. we explore the consequences of mainstream media representation of Hispanic people and issues. What are the implications of not representing racialized people on television? What are the roles of women in cinema? Why do mainstream songs focus on romantic love? Who gets to make decisions that form the cultural canon we consume? I learn continuously from my students, colleagues and the evolving society I live in.
Media Coverage
Interview about my book: https://www.solidaridaddigital.es/noticis/en-espana-la-representacion-mediatica-de-la-mujer-todavia-es-bastante-tradicional
Podcast interview about my book: https://www.rtve.es/play/audios/english-language-broadcast/english-language-broadcast-medusas-reflection-representation-of-women-in-media/16222353/
Selected Publications
“Using the Web to Educate Spain about its Afro-Identity: Afroféminas.” Rosalía Cornejo Parriego y Ana León Távora, eds. Afroespañoles: From the Colonialist View to Counternarratives of Blackness (1920-2020), Routledge, 2024.
El reflejo de Medusa. Representaciones mediáticas contemporáneas de las mujeres. Esther M. Alarcón Arana, coord. Advook, 2023.
“Mafalda’s Music: Care Against the Patriarchal Culture of Romantic Love in Spain.” Revista de Estudios de Género y Sexualidades. 2023.