Brent has a Ph.D. in American culture, with a specialization in film studies, from the University of Michigan. She is a freelance writer and teaches courses in the history of American cinema. In the following essay, Brent discusses the theme of culture shock in Ortiz Cofer's story "Bad Influence."

In Ortiz Cofer's short story "Bad Influence" the narrator and main character, Rita, is sent from her home in New Jersey to spend the summer with her relatives in Puerto Rico. Rita, who is almost fifteen, and her best friend had been caught attempting to sleep overnight with their boyfriends. Although nothing "happened" between the two girls and their boyfriends that night, their parents still believe the boys to be a "bad influence" on them. In order to keep her away from her boyfriend, Rita's parents give her the choice of spending her summer in a convent...