Alejandro González Iñárritu's virtual reality installation, CARNE y ARENA, is an immersive experience that allows visitors to walk in the shoes of Mexican and Central American immigrants and refugees. The installation, which includes a collaboration with Emmanuel Lubezki, producer Mary Parent, and ILMxLAB, aims to dissolve the boundaries of traditional cinema and create a direct contact experience. Participants go through a series of rooms that simulate the journey and challenges faced by migrants, including encounters with U.S. Border Patrol. The installation also shares the real stories of the actors, who are migrants themselves. CARNE y ARENA has toured globally and was awarded a special Oscar for its storytelling experience. The article explores the intended audience, the participatory nature of the installation, and the paradox of creating empathy while maintaining a separation between the visitor and the migrant experience.

The article recounts a personal narrative linking the author's experience of a public violation in San Francisco to a similar incident involving her great-great-grandmother, Mamá Inés, in the late 1800s in Sonsón, Colombia. The story explores themes of memory, trauma, and the intergenerational transmission of stories, as the author reflects on the assault and its connection to her family's history. Despite the lack of response from authorities to her own experience, the author finds strength in the shared legacy and the resilience of the women in her family.