Sarah Revilla Sanchez, PhD Student of Hispanic Studies, shares about her research on gender-based violence in Mexican horror and gothic fiction written by women (Part 1) and about her graduate student experience at UBC (Part 2).
“I aim to show how horror can be reimagined as a tool that contributes to understanding gender-based violence in present-day Mexico.”
Part 1: Research
What is your research topic?
My dissertation examines how gender-based violence is conceptualized and critiqued in 20th and 21st century Mexican horror and gothic fiction written by women. I specifically look at the works of Amparo Dávila, Brenda Navarro, Fernanda Melchor, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia, while situating these writers as part of a larger Latin American Gothic tradition. Engaging with Gender Theory and Feminist Studies, I demonstrate that the four authors in my corpus not only capture and portray the horrors of patriarchal violence through a gothic mode, but they do so in ways that expose the entanglement among gender, class, race, politics, and neoliberal logic. I am also interested in exploring how sorority, resistance, and care are represented and reimagined in my corpus.
Ultimately, I aim to show how horror can be reimagined as a tool that contributes to understanding gender-based violence in present-day Mexico. In doing so, my project will contribute to current feminist activism and debates that are in the process of creating a language that allows us to recognize, name, and address violence and its aftermath.
What drew you to this area of interest?
Gender-based violence is an urgent, ongoing, and unresolved matter in Mexico and around the globe. As a Mexican woman, this is an issue that has always concerned me. As I started to investigate this topic from a literary perspective, I began to question how stories are framed and by whom. I wanted to move away from narratives that normalize violence or re-victimize people, which is why I turned to female authors. I first came across Fernanda Melchor and soon discovered many other writers who employ Gothic and supernatural tropes to discuss violence.
Part 2: Graduate Student Experience
“I am lucky to have found a friendly and welcoming community in FHIS.”
Why did you choose UBC to pursue graduate studies?
I chose UBC because there are many professors doing research on topics that interest me. I was also pleased to see that the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies (FHIS) hosts events, including research seminars and reading groups, that provide students an opportunity to interact with fellow graduate students and faculty members. I have not only learned a lot, but I am also lucky to have found a friendly and welcoming community in FHIS. Plus, the campus is beautiful. One of my favourite places is the view from the Rose Garden (and it’s very close to Buchanan!).
What is it like working with your graduate supervisor?
My supervisor is Dr. Tamara Mitchell and she is amazing! She not only provides great feedback and insights about academia, but she also cares about her students’ well-being. I always feel motivated after our meetings, and as her student and Research Assistant, I have also learned valuable skills related to managing projects and digital humanities. Working with her has made my graduate experience better!
What advice would you give to new graduate students?
I would say there is no “one-size-fits all” experience in graduate school, so find what works best for you. Personally, I am a huge advocate for work-life balance. I take weekends off (yes, it is possible to do this as a graduate student!) to rest, hang out with friends, and explore Vancouver. But, I also work hard during weekdays. I think the key is time-management and organization. I like to break down my larger goals into smaller, concrete, and manageable tasks. Going into grad school can be tough, and it’s easy to lose track of the bigger picture while doing research, so try not to forget why you are doing it.
