Here Is Tijuana!

Synopsis "Here is Tijuana!" is a compendium to Tijuana, on the border of Mexico and the USA, and site of fluctuating population, mixed identities, interests, and negotiations. A city with a reputation for intoxication, gambling and prostitution, there are also more benign forms of recreation available, and increasing opportunities for economic development. This book looks to the history of the city, and to its future; to its dark side, and to the possibilities it offers, through a range of texts and a fascinating photographic records. As the work of three editors, an anthropologist, a writer and an architect, the book is a combination of three distinct research projects. It is divided into three sections: "Avatars", addressing the socio-cultural issues surrounding the city; "Desires", which explores questions of morality, cultural practices, and entertainments; and "Permutations", which looks at the built environment. The material presented here is taken from a diverse range of sources, including Mexican and United States government reports; newspaper editorials; travel guides; architectural criticism; market research statistics; homeland security bulletins; tourism and convention literature; the Rotary Club of Tijuana; Yahoo News; and contemporary literature. Contributions include text by Jesse Lerner, Michael Sorkin, Neil Denari, Mike Davis, Jorge Bustamante, Lewis Baltz, Kathy Acker, and Raymond Chandler, amongst others.