Biography
Carmelo Esterrich is a Professor in the School of Communication and Culture, and teaches courses in Interdisciplinary Humanities and Latin American Studies. Dr. Esterrich has been at Columbia since 1998, and he was the winner of the 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award.
His research and publication focuses on the cultural and artistic production in Latin America鈥攅specially film, literature, visual arts and popular music鈥攁lthough he has also done work in media studies. His book Concrete and Countryside: The Urban and the Rural in 1950s Puerto Rican Culture was published by the University of Pittsburgh Press in 2018. The book deals the complex (and often contradictory) representations of rural and urban spaces, subjects and practices in the context of the rapid modernization of the island during the midcentury.听
In 2021 he published Star Wars Multiverse (Rutgers UP). Drawing from a full range of Star Wars media, including the films but also comics, television, children's books, and fan produced material, the book explores how these stories are only fictionally far far away--as they reflect issues such as authoritarianism, colonialism, xenophobia, sexuality and gender norms. 聽
His latest book came out in 2025, in the famous and prestigious 33 1/3 book series at Bloomsbury Press. This volume is an examination of the Mexican rock band Caf茅 Tacvba and their second album, Re.听
Carmelo Esterrich has been an active volunteer for the Chicago Latino Film Festival for decades, as part of the selecting committee, leading post-screening Q&As with directors and actors, and helping as a simultaneous translator.听
He earned his PhD in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, focusing on Latin American literatures and cultures. Dr. Esterrich also holds a BA in Film Studies (Honors) from The Pennsylvania State University.
Carmelo is from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was a dancer (of many forms) for over 20 years, and is a not-too-rabid Star Wars fan.
Instructional Areas
Latin American Studies Cultural Studies Semiotics Interdisciplinary Humanities
Creative Practice and Research Interests
Latin American Cinema Latin American Popular Music Urban Studies Cinema Studies
Degrees
B.A., Film Pennsylvania State University 1987
M.A., Spanish Pennsylvania State University 1989
Ph.D., Spanish University of Wisconsin-Madison 1994