Dancing with the Devil by
Combining shrewd applications of current cultural theory with compelling autobiography and elegant prose, José E. Limón works at the intersection of anthropology, folklore, popular culture, history, and literary criticism. A native of South Texas, he renders a historical and ethnographic account of its rich Mexican-American folk culture. This folk culture, he shows—whether expressed through male joking rituals, ballroom polka dances, folk healing, or eating and drinking traditions—metaphorically dances with the devil, both resisting and accommodating the dominant culture of Texas.
Juventud! Growing up on the Border by
Borders are magical places, and growing up on a border, crossing and recrossing that space where this becomes that, creates a very special sort of person, one in whom multiple cultures, languages, identities and truths mingle in powerful ways. In these eight stories and sixteen poems, a wide range of authors explore issues that confront young people along the US-Mexico border, helping their unique voices to be heard and never ignored. Featuring the work of David Rice, Xavier Garza, Jan Seale, Guadalupe García McCall, Diana Gonzales Bertrand, and many others.
Devil at the Disco is one of the most well-known legends of the Rio Grande Valley known as “El Guapo Extranjero” and “The Devil at Boccaccio 2000”. Throughout its retelling, Devil at the Disco has had different variations, but at its core it is a cautionary tale. The young female protagonist defies the wishes of her parents and goes out to the club (discoteca). There she meets a mysterious man. As they dance, she notices he has goat and/or chicken like feet. The man vanishes, and bad things happen to the young girl. In some instances, she dies, in others she goes crazy. The only explanation is that she must have been dancing with the Devil himself. The legend has been told in different Texas regions, but its origin can be traced back to Quebec in the early 19th Century.
Manny Rodriguez is a Library Associate with UTRGV Special Collections & Archives. He joined the University Library in 2015 as a student worker and later as a full-time member of the team. Manny earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology & History from UTRGV (2016) and a Master of Library Science from Texas Woman’s University (2023).
