|
|
| From: | rcabello |
| Subject: | Books on Latinas and Latino politics |
| Date: | Tue, 25 Jul 2006 01:38:08 -0700 |
Latina Icons: Iconos Femeninos Latinos e hispanoamericanos. Edited by María Claudia André.La Mujer Latina Series ISBN: 978-0-915745-85-2. Floricanto Press, 2006. $26.95
![]()
This books brings the most prominent Latino icons, popular figures--such as La Malinche, the movie actress Maria Felix, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, Maria Ilonza, Frida Khalo, Selena, Yemayá, Carmen Miranda, and Malena, the woman object of the most notable Tango-- and provide the most important clear description of the process of iconization of the most cherished female Latin American figures. This book attempts to define and provide meaning to these popular women within context of popular symbols and the function these women played in the construction of their individual and collective identity.
Esta colección de ensayos explora los procesos de representación y de iconización de algunas de las figuras femeninas más prominentes de América Latina--como La Malinche, la actriz del cine Maria Félix, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, María Ilonza, Frida Khalo, Selena, Yamayá, Carmen Miranda, y Malena, la mujer centro del tango mas famoso escrito, son las figuras femeninas aquí discutidas extensivamente-- y se intenta definir qué significado tienen estas figuras dentro del contexto popular y determinar cuál es la función que desempeñan en la construcción de una identidad colectiva e individual.
![]()
In April of 1993, Brazilian voters were given a choice between continuing with a president, adopting a prime minister and parliament, or bringing back its long dormant monarchy. Carnival King is the story of what might have happened had they opted for the latter. Outlawing the G-string bikini on Rio de Janeiro_s beaches! Auctioning the country_s name to the highest bidder! A police escort for thousands of shantytown dwellers as they descend upon downtown Rio to call for freedom! These are just a few changes one can expect when a nation bending under the strain of democracy decides to give monarchy another try.
This comedy about Brazilian politics and history rests on the premise that the 1993 plebiscite on what form of government voters preferred_parliamentary, presidential, or monarchical_actually favored the latter. While the premise is imaginary (voters actually favored presidentalism), James has captured the cynical mood of Brazilian politics amazingly well and his characters _ a cast that includes reluctant monarchs, corrupt politicians, over-zealous cops, street vendors, and denizens of Rio de Janeiro_s night life _ jump off the page as true life figures, recognizable to anyone who has spent time in Brazil. James has a delightful narrative style and his characters speak in crisp, modern dialogue. This is a thoroughly enjoyable story by an up-and-coming first author. Buy it now!
Michael Conniff, Professor of Brazilian history, San José State University. Author of Modern Brazil: elites and masses in historical perspective and Africans in the Americas: a history of the Black Diaspora.
Floricanto Press 2006. $29.95 Finding both contradiction and dialectical opposition in the Chicano Movement and the Women_s Liberation Movement, Chicanas began the Chicana Movement which addressed the specific needs of Chicanas as women of color in the United States. The sense of sisterhood and feminist discourse that emerged within the Chicana Movement and thereafter came to be known as Chicanisma, which addressed the issues of race, class and gender and gave Chicanas a rightful name, voice and image. As a way to express Chicanisma, Chicanas began to write literature and produce and direct films. Six artists, Sylvia Morales, Margarita Cota-Cárdenas, Lourdes Portillo and Susana Blaustein Muñoz, Erlinda Gonzáles-Berry, Frances Salomé España and Denise Chávez, through their films and books, respectively, Chicana, Puppet: A Chicano Novella, La Ofrenda: The Days of the Dead, Paletitas de guayaba, El Espejo/The Mirror and Loving Pedro Infante, (re)discover and (re)present Chicana history through their works.
Through oral history research, Jennifer Watson Dean uncovers the philosophical and political underpinnings that have informed much Chicana cultural production. Latina Filmmakers and Writers cleverly situates Chicana literature and film at the perilous yet unique intersection of class, gender and race that critically defines the woman of color experience. She provides a thoughtful and honest account of Chicana creative expressions. Through her concept of Chicanisma, the author successfully outlines the contours of Chicana creative expressions. Through personal interviews and conversations with important Chicana writers and filmmakers, Jennifer Watson Dean identifies Chicana creative expressions as acts of social, cultural and political emancipation and protest.
Jennifer Watson Dean provides a historically and culturally grounded account of Chicana film and literary production. Through oral history research, Jennifer Watson Dean uncovers the philosophical and political underpinnings that have informed much Chicana cultural production. Latina Filmmakers and Writers cleverly situates Chicana literature and film at the perilous yet unique intersection of class, gender and race that critically defines the woman of color experience. Jennifer Watson Dean effectively weaves Chicana feminist theory and original oral history research to give us a focused and vivid picture of Chicana creative activities. Jennifer Watson Dean astutely describes Chicana cultural _expression_ as an explosion of creative output unbound by social, cultural and historical constraints and conventions. Jennifer Watson Dean in Latina Filmmakers and Writers embarks on a critical recovery project thus rescuing from patriarchal history the hidden, fragmented and undermined narratives of the Chicana experience.
Floricanto Press presents other new titles on the Collected works of Bruno Estañol, a leading short story writer, who has gained strong following in the United States, Europe, Latin America, particularly Mexico; the poetry--Jalapeño Blues-- of Trinidad Sánchez, Jr, a well-known Latino poet, who has captured vast audiences in the United States with his lyric social commentary; La Picardía Chicana: Latino Folk Humor. Folklore Latino Jocoso by José R. Reyna, a life work, thirty-years of research, explores the rich satirical tradition of popular Mexican, Chicano cultures; and Luis Zapata's Strongest Passion is a novel of sexual discovery, love and Latino gay passion; Crypto-Jews living among Hispanics in the Southwest; Illegal immigration and the perspective of Mexican-Americans on this pressing controversy. The issues of self-identity, and historical roots between borders are also explored in seminal titles, such as Salvation of the Purisíma .
Floricanto Press TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LIST
Inter American Development/Floricanto Press
650 Castro St., Suite 120-331
Mountain View, California 94041-2055
Telephone: (415) 552 1879 Fax (702) 995 1410
| [Prev in Thread] | Current Thread | [Next in Thread] |