T.C. Boyle's "The Tortilla Curtain"

Focusing on urban studies and cultural representation, this thesis examines Los Angeles as a complex setting in both reality and fiction. It highlights the city's dual image—glamorous yet marked by deep-rooted racism against Latin-American immigrants and a fortress mentality among its white residents. Using T.C. Boyle's novel "The Tortilla Curtain" as a lens, the paper explores how urban conditions, racial tensions, and ecological disasters intersect, revealing a darker side of the Californian megalopolis that contrasts with its popular perception.