Three-Year
Research Plan
José Manuel Flores PhD
Biographical Sketch
I am José Manuel Flores Fuentes, a scholar, educator, and digital humanities researcher whose work bridges Latinx studies, sound studies, and the socio-political dynamics of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. I earned my Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where my scholarship explores how sound shapes Latinx identity, memory, and belonging.
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My current project, The Border Soundscapes Project, investigates the cultural, social, and political complexities of the border through sound, using auditory experiences to highlight issues of resistance, memory, and community-building. I employ an interdisciplinary methodology that blends ethnographic fieldwork, cultural rhetorical analysis, and GIS technologies to map and analyze border soundscapes. My expertise in sound mapping and digital tools has allowed me to create innovative platforms for preserving and interpreting the sonic environments of Ciudad Juárez and El Paso. As the next step in this research, I am planning to expand the project through the creation of The Immersive Sonic Border Digital UX/Lab. This lab will serve as an interactive, community-centered space for exploring border soundscapes through immersive technologies, integrating virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and advanced UX design. The lab will provide opportunities for collaborative research, public engagement, and educational initiatives, amplifying the voices and experiences of border communities while advancing digital humanities scholarship.
In 2022, I joined the Latinx Sound Culture Studies Research Working Group, supported by the Crossing Latinidades Humanities Research Initiative and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This group fosters collaborative, transdisciplinary research into Latinx sonic practices, addressing their socio-political implications and advancing sound as a tool for cultural preservation.
My research interests include GIS-based sound mapping, digital humanities, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), advanced UX design, Latinx sound cultures, border studies, and cultural rhetorics. By combining digital technologies with qualitative research methods, I aim to amplify underrepresented voices and preserve the intangible cultural heritage of border communities. Furthermore, I am committed to expanding my skills in audiovisual production and refining my expertise in digital design, multimedia, and interactive technologies, strengthening both the creative and scholarly dimensions of my work.
Through my scholarship, teaching, and service, I remain committed to exploring the evolving role of sound, digital mapping, and cultural production in shaping narratives of resistance, belonging, and identity in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. My work seeks to bridge humanistic inquiry with digital innovation, honoring the stories and experiences of Latinx communities across borders.
The Border Soundscapes Project
The Border Soundscapes Project explores the cultural, social, and political dynamics of the U.S.-Mexico border through sound, emphasizing how auditory experiences shape Latinx identity and belonging. Rooted in my dissertation, this project investigates environmental soundscapes from Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, highlighting sound as a tool for resistance, memory, and cultural preservation.
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Key achievements to date include:
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Thanks to my Border Soundscapes research, I was accepted as a Mellon Fellow in the Crossing Latinidades 2022 program, allowing me to continue developing my dissertation.
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A 2021 Kairos Webtext co-authored with Dr. Lucía Durá (UTEP), “The Border Soundscapes Project” (published in Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy), examines the project's rhetorical and technological dimensions and showcases its multimodal, digital approach to scholarship.
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Achievement: Best Webtext Award at the 2022 Computers and Writing Conference.
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Citation: Flores Fuentes, José Manuel, and Durá, Lucía. “The Border Soundscapes Project.” Kairos, vol. 26, no. 1, 2021.
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A collaborative piece with Dr. D. Inés Casillas (UCSB), titled “Echoes in Transit: Loudly Waiting at the Paso del Norte Border Region” (published in Sounding Out! on September 11, 2023), explores critical intersections of Latinx sound cultures, addressing the sonic dimensions of waiting, transit, and identity at the U.S.-Mexico border.
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Citation: Casillas, D. Inés, and José Manuel Flores Fuentes. “Echoes in Transit: Loudly Waiting at the Paso del Norte Border Region.” Sounding Out!, September 11, 2023.
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Moderator of the webinar Listening to the Border with Mexican author Valeria Luiselli in 2023.
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Completion of dissertation that serves as the basis for the project, offering an in-depth analysis of border soundscapes as spaces of cultural production and community resilience.
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I received the Dodson Research Fellowship in 2024 to fund part of the Border Soundscapes project for 3 years.
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An upcoming book chapter for Sounding Latinx Volume on Sonic Culture in Latina/o/x contributes to ongoing scholarly discussions on Latinx sonic practices and their socio-political importance. Titled "Sonorous Spectacle: Unveiling the Sonic Cultural Significance of Lucha Libre at the US-Mexico Borderlands," the chapter explores how the auditory dimensions of Lucha Libre de Barrio reflect and shape cultural identities and community dynamics in the borderlands.​
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Long-Term Research Goal
To expand The Border Soundscapes Project into a comprehensive, community-centered, and publicly accessible digital archive and interactive platform through the creation of The Immersive Sonic Border Digital UX/Lab. This innovative lab will preserve and amplify the Paso del Norte border region's cultural, sonic, and lived experiences, leveraging immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality to create engaging, multisensory representations of border soundscapes. The project will serve as a model for interdisciplinary digital humanities work, combining sound studies, border studies, and community-based research to foster dialogue and a deeper understanding of Latinx cultural identities.​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Long-Term Research Goals
Year 1
Establishing Foundations
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Grant Acquisition:
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Submit proposals to secure foundational funding for The Border Soundscapes Project and The Immersive Sonic Border Digital UX/Lab:
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NEH Digital Humanities Advancement Grant (Stage I: Expansion of the digital archive).
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ACLS Digital Justice Seed Grant to incorporate social justice elements and oral histories of underrepresented border communities.
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Research Activities:
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Begin data collection and digitization of existing sound archives, including oral histories, lucha libre events, and environmental soundscapes.
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Collaborate with local artists, musicians, and community stakeholders in Ciudad Juárez and El Paso to curate initial materials.
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Publications:
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Draft and submit a peer-reviewed article on The Border Soundscapes Project and The Immersive Sonic Border Digital UX/Lab methodology and its contribution to Latinx sound studies.
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Explore the possibility of publishing in journals such as Digital Humanities Quarterly and Latino Studies.
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Teaching:
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Develop and teach a course on "Digital Humanities in Borderlands Research," introducing students to tools such as data visualization, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), archival platforms, and community-centered research methods.
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Mentor graduate students on incorporating digital tools into Latino/Latin American Studies research projects.
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Service:
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Bring my expertise to the new Borderlands Digital Humanities Center to help implement and expand its mission and digital infrastructure.
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Organize a workshop for faculty and students on using digital tools to document local histories and sonic experiences.
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Year 2
Expansion and Dissemination
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Grant Acquisition:
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Apply for a larger NEH Public Humanities Project Grant to extend The Border Soundscapes Project and The Immersive Sonic Border Digital UX/Lab into a bilingual, interactive platform accessible to communities, scholars, and students.
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Submit a proposal to the IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries (Community-Centered Implementation) to develop a sustainable digital infrastructure for the project.
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Research Activities:
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Expand fieldwork by recording additional soundscapes and oral histories, integrating themes such as migration, environmental soundscapes, and gendered experiences.
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Foster interdisciplinary collaborations with faculty in sound studies, linguistics, and digital media.
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Publications:
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Submit a co-authored article on soundscapes as tools for cultural preservation in the borderlands, addressing broader discussions in Digital Humanities and Latinx Studies.
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Begin drafting a book proposal for a monograph titled Border Soundscapes: Sonic Identities and Community Narratives in the Paso del Norte Region.
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Teaching:
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Refine and teach an advanced undergraduate/graduate seminar on "Sound, Identity, and Digital Archives" with hands-on assignments involving The Border Soundscapes Project and The Immersive Sonic Border Digital UX/Lab.
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Develop bilingual digital humanities modules that engage students with community-based archival work.
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Service:
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Organize a public symposium in partnership with the Borderlands Digital Humanities Center, focusing on “Sound, Memory, and Digital Preservation in Border Communities.”
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Mentor undergraduate research assistants to contribute to project components, fostering skills in DH tools, virtual reality (VR, augmented reality (AR), and community engagement.
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Year 3
Sustainability and Public Engagement
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Grant Acquisition:
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Pursue renewal funding for existing grants (NEH and IMLS) to sustain long-term goals, with a focus on platform accessibility and public scholarship.
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Explore additional funding opportunities for scaling the project to include broader Latinx communities beyond the Paso del Norte region.
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Research Activities:
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Analyze collected soundscapes and oral histories to address critical issues such as identity formation, migration narratives, and sonic resistance.
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Develop interactive tools (e.g., maps, audio tours) to allow public audiences to engage with the archive in immersive ways.
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Publications:
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Submit the completed book manuscript Border Soundscapes: Sonic Identities and Community Narratives.
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Publish an article in Public Humanities journals on community collaboration and digital methodologies in Latinx Studies.
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Teaching:
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Develop a capstone digital humanities course where students actively contribute to expanding The Border Soundscapes Project and The Immersive Sonic Border Digital UX/Lab and engage in community-based research.
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Create interdisciplinary teaching materials that link DH tools to Latino/Latin American cultural preservation.
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Service:
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Launch a bilingual digital public exhibit that showcases collected soundscapes, oral histories, and collaborative community stories.
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Partner with local schools and cultural institutions to provide workshops on documenting borderland histories through sound and digital tools.
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Three-Year Research Plan
Conclusion
By the end of three years, this research plan will achieve the following outcomes:
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Funding Secured: NEH, ACLS, and IMLS grants supporting innovative digital scholarship.
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Research Produced: A fully developed, interactive sound archive; interdisciplinary collaborations; and expanded fieldwork.
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Publications: Peer-reviewed articles, book manuscript submission, and public-facing works.
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Teaching Innovations: Courses and materials integrating digital tools with Latino/Latin American Studies.
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Community Impact: Strong ties with border communities, public scholarship dissemination, and active mentorship of students.
This plan establishes a solid foundation for achieving long-term goals while advancing UTEP’s mission to foster cross-border collaboration, interdisciplinary scholarship, and community engagement through digital humanities.