Marina Alvarez
Majors: Global Studies, Spanish
Research Mentor: Dr. Rafaela Fiore Urízar
What was the focus of your research?
I fell in love with street art while studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Working with Dr. Fiore, I decided to focus on Latinas making street art, and graffiti and muralism in Los Angeles.
This art form is male-dominated, but a small number of women are demonstrating incredible power in their craft. I wanted to meet these women, assess how their work was being received by their male counterparts and learn how their involvement in this art form aided in the development of their self-identities.
How was your research experience?
It opened my eyes to the world of research—there is very little scholarly work being done in this area, so my project was the first of its kind. None of it would have been possible without the help and guidance of Dr. Fiore. She instilled a passion in me to look at everything with an analytical eye.
What’s next?
I am now applying to graduate programs where I plan on continuing and expanding my research.
