Redrawing The Nation: National Identity in Latin/o American Comics (New Directions in Latino American Cultures)

This volume discusses the role of comics in the formation of a modern sense of nationhood in Latin America and the rise of a collective Latino identity in the USA. It is one of the first attempts - in English and from a cultural studies perspective - to cover Latin/o American comics with a fully continental scope. Specific cases include cultural powerhouses like Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, as well as the production of lesser-known industries, like Chile, Cuba, and Peru. "This book sets the context and the basis for arguing the ways in which comics, graphic novels, and cartoons mediate (positively, negatively and in between) the development of the state and the formulation of a coherent national culture. It will allow students to learn about Spanish-language comics and graphic novels in Latin America and the US, but without needing to be fluent Spanish speakers. The volume is significant since there are no other books like it, especially in English."--Dr. Mari Castaneda, Associate Professor of Communication, University of Massachusetts, Amherst "There is now little doubt that popular culture genres such as the comic book merit serious critical analysis. Far from just a production of insignificant mass consumption, the comic book is a site of important information, ideologemes, and interpretations of the stress lines of the diverse national consciousness and imaginaries of Latin America. Redrawing the Nation is a superb inventory of critical essays and a superb entry in the sort of analytical bibliography this genre now compels."--David William Foster, Regents' Professor of Spanish and Women and Gender Studies, Arizona State University Introduction / He ctor Ferna ndez L'Hoeste and Juan Poblete Mo nica Power: comics, society, Brazil / Eva Paulino Bueno and Terry Caesar Condorito,Chilean popular culture and the work of mediation / Juan Poblete Race and gender in the adventures of Kalima n, El hombre increi ble / He ctor Ferna ndez L'Hoeste Cuban cartoonists: masters of coping / John A. Lent Argentina's Montoneros: comics, cartoons, and images as political propaganda in the underground guerrilla press of the 1970s / Fernando Reati Memi n pengui n: li os gordos con los gringos / Robert McKee Irwin Acevedo and his predecessors Carla Saga stegui Brazilian comics: origin, development, and future trends / Waldomiro Vergueiro Pavane for a deceased comic: decadence, illusions, and demise of an exuberant narrative / Armando Bartra The Fierro years: an exercise in melancholy / Pablo de Santis Mexican comics: a bastion of imperfection / Ricardo Pela ez Ilan Stavans's Latino USA: a cartoon history (of a cosmopolitan intellectual) / Paul Allatson The bros. Hernandez: a Latin presence in alternative U.S. comics / Ana Merino. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Introduction....Pages 1-16 Monica Power: Comics, Society, Brazil....Pages 17-34 Condorito, Chilean Popular Culture and the Work of Mediation....Pages 35-53 Race and Gender in The Adventures of Kalimán, El Homère Increíble....Pages 55-80 Cuban Cartoonists: Masters of Coping....Pages 81-95 Argentina’s Montoneros: Comics, Cartoons, and Images as Political Propaganda in the Underground Guerrilla Press of the 1970s....Pages 97-110 Memín Pinguin: Líos Gordos con los Gringos....Pages 111-130 Acevedo and His Predecessors....Pages 131-150 Brazilian Comics: Origin, Development, and Future Trends....Pages 151-170 Pavane for a Deceased Comic: Decadence, Illusions, and Demise of an Exuberant Narrative....Pages 171-190 The Fierro Years: An Exercise in Melancholy....Pages 191-203 Mexican Comics: A Bastion of Imperfection....Pages 205-225 Ilan Stavans’s Latino USA: A Cartoon History (of a Cosmopolitan Intellectual)....Pages 227-250 The Bros. Hernandez: A Latin Presence in Alternative U.S. Comics....Pages 251-269 Back Matter....Pages 271-276

This volume discusses the role of comics in the formation of a modern sense of nationhood in Latin America and the rise of a collective Latino identity in the USA. It is one of the first attempts--in English and from a cultural studies perspective--to cover Latin/o American comics with a fully continental scope. Specific cases include cultural powerhouses like Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, as well as the production of lesser-known industries, like Chile, Cuba, and Peru.

Redrawing The Nation: Latin American Comics and The Graphic Construction of Cultural identities is a collective effort to map out some of the complexities structuring the field of comics production, and its history and analysis in Latin/o America