Reframing Latin America : A Cultural Theory Reading of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries

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. What Are We Doing And Why Are We Doing It? -- Part I: Introduction(s) -- Post What?! (not) An Abbreviated Introduction -- Saussure, Signs, And Semiotics, Or Lots Of Words That Begin With S -- Narrating About Narrative -- Part Ii: Theory -- An Opening Jaunt: El Salvador In 1923 -- A Gringo In Mąana-land / Harry Foster -- Be Here (or There) Now: Ethnicity -- Identity And Difference / Stuart Hall -- Identity Construct #1: Race -- I'm Not A Racist But... / Lawrence Blum -- Race And Ethnicity In Latin America / Peter Wade -- Identity Construct #2: Class -- The Idea Of The Middle Class / David Parker -- Identity Construct #3: Gender -- Doing Gender / Candace West And Don Zimmerman -- Masculinities / R. W. Connell -- Identity Construct #4: Nation -- The Inequality Of Human Races / Arthur De Gobineau -- On Becoming Cuban / Louis Perez -- Identity Construct #5: Latin America -- Journeys Through The Labyrinth / Gerald Martin -- The Search For Cultural Identity / Leslie Bary --^ Local Histories, Global Designs / Walter Mignolo -- Reading(s) -- Civilized Folk Defeat The Barbarians: The Liberal Nation -- Facundo / Domingo Sarmiento -- Civilized Folk Marry The Barbarians: The Nationalist Nation -- Introduction To Dǫa Barbara By R̤mulo Gallegos -- Dǫa Barbara / R̤mulo Gallegos -- Introduction To Doris Sommer's Foundational Fictions -- Foundational Fictions / Doris Sommer -- Introduction To Jose Marť's Our America -- Our America / Jose Marť -- Film Foray: Los Tres Caballeros -- Don (juanito) Duck And The Imperial Patriarchal Discourse / Julianne Burton -- 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 -- The Harsh Angel / Alma Guillermoprieto -- Film Analysis: Soy Cuba/ya Kuba (i Am Cuba) -- Boom Goes The Literature: Magical Realism As The True Latin America? --^ It's The Fault Of The Tlaxcaltecas / Elena Garro -- Film Foray: Como Agua Para Chocolate (like Water For Chocolate) -- Why Tita Didn't Marry The Doctor, Or Mexican History In Like Water For Chocolate / Barbara Tenenbaum -- Consuming Tacos And Enchiladas/ Harmony Wu -- Film Foray: Mi Familia (my Family) -- Are We There Yet? Testimonial Literature -- Celsa's World: Conversations With A Mexican Peasant Woman / Thomas Tirado -- Some Closing Comments. Erik Ching, Christina Buckley, And Angelica Lozano-alonso. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Mode Of Access: World Wide Web. Providing an extensive introduction to cultural studies in general, regardless of chronological or geographic focus, and presenting provocative readings from Latin American writers of the last two centuries, this title brings much needed accessibility to the concepts of cultural studies and postmodernism