Who Is Carlos Fuentes The Lipstick Stained Frontier
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The Lipstick Stained Frontier
“The Crystal Frontier” by Carlos Fuentes, is about both the physical and metaphysical borders between Mexico City and New York. It tells the story of Mexican worker, Lisandro, who travels to NY through a program that is a result of the NAFTA. With the establishment of this treaty, Mexicans come to the U.S. for better jobs with pay that barely scrapes the line of minimum wage. In in the eyes of a foreigner, ethnic classification is a way of putting a new society into perspective by using stereotypical labels. Fuentes’ style of writing stresses the discomfort of having our flaws magnified in these characters by pointing out that although stereotyping is wrong, we all tend to do it. We are forced to meet each character through a stranger's eyes, as opposed to a reader who knows . “The Crystal Frontier” uses labels based on preconceived stereotypes and their relation to identity.…show more content… Born in Panama 1928, Fuentes provided a voice for his county during the 20th century through his Latin American literature. He was the son of a diplomat and studied at University of Mexico. He was also a member of the Mexican delegation to the International Labor Organization which “gives an equal voice to workers, employers and governments to ensure that the views of the social partners are closely reflected in labor standards and in shaping policies and programs.” (ILO). It also aims to “promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues” (1996-2012 ILO). Throughout his life, Fuentes demonstrated his belief in equal rights. The Crystal Frontier is one of many examples of his impression of man’s societal habits. His use of “plural voices” emphasizes different labels such as skin color, sex, weight, or even apparel that