American West Program at Colorado State University Explores ‘cultural Borders of the Outlaw’ July 3

The American West Program will explore "The Cultural Borders of the Outlaw" by John-Michael Rivera, assistant professor of English at the University of Colorado-Boulder, on July 3. The talk begins at 7:30 p.m. in Room C146 Plant Sciences Building on the Colorado State University campus.

Rivera’s talk will explore Billy the Kid of New Mexico, Gregorio Cortez of Texas and Juaquin Murieta of California. Rivera will focus on how Mexicans have been constructed as outlaws in American popular culture and how those projections affect debates on the rights and status of Mexicans as citizens of the United States.

Rivera teaches 19th century American and Chicana/o literature, cultural studies and American ethnic studies at the University of Colorado. He received his doctorate in the Ethnic and Third World Literature Program at the University of Texas at Austin in 2000.

The 24th American West Program continues through July 31, highlighted this year with an appearance on July 24 by Belle Starr, the "Bandit Queen" of the West as portrayed by performance artist VanAnn Moore.

Following is a schedule of events for the series. All talks begin at 7:30 p.m. in Room C146 Plant Sciences Building except for the July 24 program, which takes place in the Lory Student Center Theatre. All events are free and open to the public.

This year’s American West Program is supported by the Office of the Academic Vice President/Provost and by the Lilla B. Morgan Memorial Fund.

For more information, call Harry Rosenberg, history professor and coordinator of the American West series, at 491-5230.

  • July 3 – "The Cultural Borders of the Outlaw," John-Michael Rivera, English department, University of Colorado-Boulder.
  • July 10 – "Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp: What Did They Actually Do to Deserve Their Fame?" Bob Boze Bell, Cave Creek, Ariz.
  • July 17 – "An Ear in His Pocket – The Life of Jack Slade," Kenneth Jessen, Loveland, Colo.
  • July 24 – "Belle Starr, the Lady Bandit," VanAnn Moore, Belen, N.M., accompanied by Mark Zwillig, Denver. The performance takes place in the Lory Student Center Theatre.
  • July 31 – "No God West of Fort Smith: The Outlaws of the Indian Territory," Garrick Bailey, Department of Anthropology, University of Tulsa, Okla.