SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego State students will be able to learn all about Latinx representation in media through the life of the "Queen of Tejano."
On what would have been the famed superstar's 48th birthday, SDSU's School of Journalism and Media Studies will offer a course dedicated to the late Selena Quintanilla Perez next spring called, "Selena and Latinx Media Representation."
Students will be able to register for the class starting on Nov. 1, 2019.
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The course will explore and deconstruct Latinx identities and socio-cultural representations through Selena's music, career, and influence, according to Nathian Rodriquez, assistant professor of digital media studies.
“Students also need access to content in media landscapes to better understand the relationship between mediated representations and Latinx identity formation and maintenance,” Rodriguez said. “Speaking about these issues through the life of a well-known and visible celebrity allows students to utilize both pop culture and Latinx culture to deconstruct and interrogate the significance and broader meaning of minority-based mediated content.”
Selena released 10 albums throughout her career, winning several awards including Tejano Music Awards, Billboard Latin Music Awards, and a Grammy.
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Not only did her work on stage influence music, but her fashion and fame influenced thousands as she became a Latin music icon.
In March 1995, she was killed by the founder of her fan club. A movie released two years later, starring Jennifer Lopez as Selena, further highlighted Selena's lasting influence on pop culture.
“Selena was such an inspiration to so many Latinx individuals around the world, and continues to be today. Her music, fashion, and iconography have influenced every facet of pop culture, transcending the entertainment world and influencing socio-cultural spaces world-wide,” Rodriguez said. “I grew up listening to Selena and wanted to create a course that highlighted her impact on not just Latinx culture, but pop culture in an international scope.”
