Miami looks north with one eye and south with the other. This broad perspective makes the Florida city one of the most vibrant urban centers in the U.S. Although it is often associated with frivolity and excess, Miami is a place full of culture. In addition to being the international capital of Latin music, it is one of the North American epicenters of contemporary art thanks to the Art Basel Miami fair-held from December 6 to December 8-and a good example of the rise of mestizo literature... Moreover, the strong Cuban influence adds flavor and warmth to the Anglo-Saxon pragmatism. The following are some clues to discover the different facets of this city through books, movies, series, and songs.
Miami through Two Books, a Movie, and a Series
Miami (Joan Didion - Espasa Calpe)
Overshadowed for years by the presence of Tom Wolfe, Hunter S. Thompson, and Gay Talese, the figure of writer and journalist Joan Didion (1934-2021) has received well-deserved recognition in recent years as a key figure in the New Journalism that emerged in the U.S. during the 1960s. This chronicle by Didion, published as a book in 1987 from a series of articles that appeared in The New York Review of Books, examines the influence of Cubans who arrived in Miami after the end of Fulgencio Batista's dictatorship in 1959.
With her usual insightful and straightforward prose, Didion explores the lives of Cuban exiles in the city and the ways in which they have influenced its character. In her research, the author traverses some significant moments in U.S. history during the second half of the 20th century: the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Watergate scandal...
Bloody Miami (Tom Wolfe - Anagrama)
Despite the strong Cuban presence in Miami, the Floridian city is also home to citizens of Haitian, Russian, and even French origin. This cultural melting pot serves as the backdrop for Bloody Miami, the last novel published during the life of Tom Wolfe (1930-2018), one of the most esteemed American journalists and writers of the 20th century. This satirical work focuses on Edward T. Topping IV, a descendant of an old family who is tasked with launching a local newspaper, El Nuevo Herald, for Latino readers.
Among the many colorful characters that populate this chaotic tale are the ambitious reporter John Smith, the young police officer Nestor Camacho-second generation Cuban immigrant, the exuberant Magdalena, and a psychiatrist specializing in sexual addictions... A vibrant mosaic of characters that also includes Russian mobsters, a Latino mayor, and a Black police chief.
Scarface (1983) - Brian De Palma
A cult work inspired by Howard Hawks' classic Scarface (1932). Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer star in this crime drama centered around the figure of Tony Montana (Pacino), a Cuban who arrives in Miami during the Mariel boatlift crisis of 1980. Thanks to his ambition and lack of scruples, Montana will rise rapidly in the local underworld.
Dexter (2006-2013) - Movistar+
The central character of this crime series, Miami police forensic expert Dexter Morgan, has become a cultural icon. Portrayed by Michael C. Hall, he leads a double life: outside of work hours, he kills criminals who have escaped justice due to system failures.
Feeling like taking a trip to Miami from home? Now you know how.