Book Review: Narcomedia by Jason Ruiz

Abstract

In Narcomedia, Jason Ruiz analyzes popular culture representations of the drug trade, focusing on how Latinidad is represented in such media. Television and film are the primary mediums he analyzes, however he at times expands his analysis to include music, magazines, and other forms of media. Throughout the book, Ruiz describes common themes in the texts that work together to represent Latinos as villains in the war on drugs. He also analyzes the political and cultural context in which these texts were created as well as their critical reception. This book makes a compelling case for narcomedia to be viewed as a critical genre and Ruiz’s work can be built upon by other scholars in Latinx studies and media studies.