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David Vasquez Hurtado, a Colombian lawyer and academic, has a strong commitment to exploring the intersections of law, literature, and cultural studies. He obtained his Master's and Ph.D. from the University of Florida and currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Sociology, Criminology and Borders & Languages at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. His academic pursuits are driven by a profound interest in monstrosity and horror, particularly as they manifest in both colonial and contemporary cultural products. In 2018, he published a book titled "Monstrosity and Baroque Skepticism in Imperial Spain" with Peter Lang.
Before entering academia, David practiced criminal law in Colombia for eight years, handling cases in various courts, including the Colombian Supreme Court and advising the mayor of Santiago de Cali as a legal consultant. These experiences notably enrich his academic work, particularly in his exploration of law, criminology, and the state of exception in Colombia. David’s research interests span a wide array of topics, including horror and monstrosity in Latin American film, monstrosity in Early Modern and Colonial Hispanic literature, cultural criminology, and critical theory. His unique interdisciplinary approach enables him to bridge legal, cultural, and theoretical frameworks in his work.
Besides his academic and legal pursuits, David is a published author of fiction for young readers. His works include "The Terrible Machine" (2013), co-authored with Ana María Díaz Collazos, "The Saga of Úrkah and Gudrún" (2010), "The Blind King’s Library" (2009), and "Anita and the Clouds" (2011).