Faculty & Instructors

Biography

Richard Ardila is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish. He completed his PhD in Iberian and Latin American Literatures and Cultures from the University of Texas at Austin. His dissertation titled “Visualizing Indigeneity: Colonial Re-Inscriptions in Early 21st Century Spain”, analyzed the representations of Indigenous Americans in the Spanish media. His research focuses on contemporary Iberian studies including Portugal, the media, postcolonial studies and Critical Indigenous Studies. Currently, he is working on a publication which will interrogate the narratives of “Discovery” and Empire as told in theme parks and museums in Spain and Portugal. Additionally, he has lectured and presented on topics including film theory, Spanish media, and decolonial resistance in the Iberian Peninsula.

Selected Publications

• “Una España Multirracial? El Reclamo de la Inclusividad en España de Afropoderossa”. Revista Pterodáctilo, October 2023.
• “Tropicalizing the Netflix Empire: Neocolonialist Renderings of Afro-Cubans on Sky Rojo and Toy Boy”. Ciber Letras, Jan 2023.

Selected Presentations

•  “Themed Spaces and Narratives of Discovery in Spain and Portugal: Colonial Vibes and Rides at Isla Mágica and World of Discoveries”, NECS Conference – Lisbon 2025.
• “Fado Bicha: Queer Concoctions of Portugal's Prized Musical Genre”, Afterlives of Grief: Queerness, Disability and Race Conference – The University of Texas at Austin 2024.
• “Screening Indigeneity in Spain: Neocolonialism and Representation on the Small Screen”, Society for Cinema and Media Studies Annual Conference – Boston 2024.
• “Race and Representation: Afro-Latinos on Netflix España”, MLA Convention – San Francisco 2023.