Full Description
Providing an extensive introduction to cultural studies in general, regardless of chronological or geographic focus, and presenting provocative, essential readings from Latin American writers of the last two centuries, Reframing Latin America brings much-needed accessibility to the concepts of cultural studies and postmodernism.
From Saussure to semiotics, the authors begin by demystifying terminology, then guide readers through five identity constructs, including nation, race, and gender. The readings that follow are presented with insightful commentary and encompass such themes as "Civilized Folk Marry the Barbarians" (including JosÉ MartÍ's "Our America") and "Boom Goes the Literature: Magical Realism as the True Latin America?" (featuring Elena Garro's essay "It's the Fault of the Tlaxcaltecas"). Films such as Like Water for Chocolate are discussed in-depth as well. The result is a lively, interdisciplinary guide for theorists and novices alike.
Contents
What Are We Doing and Why Are We Doing It? A Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I: Introduction(s)
1) Post What?! (Not) An Abbreviated Introduction
2) Saussure, Signs, and Semiotics, or Lots of Words That Begin with S
3) Narrating about Narrative
Part II: Theory
4) An Opening Jaunt: El Salvador in 1923
Harry Foster, "A Gringo in MaÑana-land"
5) Be Here (or There) Now
Stuart Hall, "Ethnicity: Identity and Difference"
6) Identity Construct #1: Race
Lawrence Blum, I'm Not a Racist But ...
Peter Wade, Race and Ethnicity in Latin America
7) Identity Construct #2: Class
David Parker, The Idea of the Middle Class
8) Identity Construct #3: Gender
Candace West and Don Zimmerman, "Doing Gender"
R. W. Connell, Masculinities
9) Identity Construct #4: Nation
Arthur de Gobineau, The Inequality of Human Races
Louis PÉrez, On Becoming Cuban
10) Identity Construct #5: Latin America
Gerald Martin, Journeys Through the Labyrinth
Leslie Bary, "The Search for Cultural Identity"
Walter Mignolo, Local Histories, Global Designs
Part III: Reading(s)
11) Civilized Folk Defeat the Barbarians: The Liberal Nation
Domingo Sarmiento, Facundo
12) Civilized Folk Marry the Barbarians: The Nationalist Nation
Introduction to DoÑa Barbara by RÓmulo Gallegos
RÓmulo Gallegos, DoÑa Barbara
Introduction to Doris Sommer's Foundational Fictions
Doris Sommer, Foundational Fictions
Introduction to JosÉ MartÍ's "Our America"
JosÉ MartÍ, "Our America"
13) Film Foray: Los tres caballeros
Julianne Burton, "Don (Juanito) Duck and the Imperial Patriarchal Discourse"
14) The Socialist Utopia: Che Guevara and the Cuban Revolution
Analyzing The Motorcycle Diaries
Film Analysis: The Motorcycle Diaries
Introduction to Alma Guillermoprieto's "The Harsh Angel"
Alma Guillermoprieto, "The Harsh Angel"
Film Analysis: Soy Cuba/Ya Kuba (I Am Cuba)
15) Boom Goes the Literature: Magical Realism as the True Latin America?
Elena Garro, "It's the Fault of the Tlaxcaltecas"
16) Film Foray: Como agua para chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate)
Barbara Tenenbaum, "Why Tita Didn't Marry the Doctor, or Mexican History in Like Water for Chocolate"
Harmony Wu, "Consuming Tacos and Enchiladas"
17) Film Foray: Mi familia (My Family)
18) Are We There Yet? Testimonial Literature
Thomas Tirado, Celsa's World: Conversations with a Mexican Peasant Woman
19) Some Closing Comments
Permissions Acknowledgments
Index
