Taking their word : literature and the signs of Central America

Central Americans are one of the largest Latino population groups in the United States. Yet, Arturo Arias argues, the cultural production of Central Americans remains little known to North Americans. In Taking Their Word, Arias complicates notions of the cultural production of Central America, from Mexico in the North to Panama in the South. He charts the literature of Central America’s liberation struggles of the 1970s and 1980s, its transformation after peace treaties were signed, the emergence of a new Maya literature that decenters Latin American literature written in Spanish, and the rise and fall of testimonio. Arias demonstrates that Central America and its literature are marked by an indigenousness that has never before been fully theorized or critically grasped. Never one to avoid controversy, Arias proffers his views of how the immigration of Central Americans to North America has changed the cultural topography of both zones. With this groundbreaking work, Arias establishes the importance of Central American literature and provides a frame for future studies of the region’s culture. Arturo Arias is director of Latin American studies at the University of Redlands. He is the author of six novels in Spanish and editor of The Rigoberta Mench? Controversy (Minnesota, 2001). Central Americans Are One Of The Largest Latino Population Groups In The United States. Yet, Arturo Arias Argues, The Cultural Production Of Central Americans Remains Little Known To North Americans. In Taking Their Word, Arias Complicates Notions Of The Cultural Production Of Central America, From Mexico In The North To Panama In The South. He Charts The Literature Of Central America{u2019}s Liberation Struggles Of The 1970s And 1980s, Its Transformation After Peace Treaties Were Signed, The Emergence Of A New Maya Literature That Decenters Latin American Literature Written In Spanish, And The Rise And Fall Of Testimonio. Arias Demonstrates That Central America And Its Literature Are Marked By An Indigenousness That Has Never Before Been Fully Theorized Or Critically Grasped. Never One To Avoid Controversy, Arias Proffers His Views Of How The Immigration Of Central Americans To North America Has Changed The Cultural Topography Of Both Zones. With This Groundbreaking Work, Arias Establishes The Importance Of Central American Literature And Provides A Frame For Future Studies Of The Region{u2019}s Culture. Revolutionary Endgame : Globalization And The Trajectory Of Narrative -- Erotic Transgression And Recodification Of Values In Asturias's Mulata -- Identity Or Literariness : The Emergence Of A New Maya Literature -- Authoring Ethnicized Subjects : The Performative Production Of The Subaltern Self -- After The Controversy : Lessons Learned About Subalternity And The Indigenous Subject -- Reading Truthfully : An American Reading Of A Subaltern Text -- The Burning Of The Spanish Embassy : Máximo Cajal Versus David Stoll -- The Maya Movement -- Central American-americans? : Latino And Latin American Subjectivities -- American Central Americans : Invisibility And Representation In The Latino United States -- Conclusion: Forever Modern, Forever Marginal. Arturo Arias. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 263-278) And Index. 0816648484......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Introduction: Is There a Central American Literature?......Page 10 PART I: The Outcasts of Global Citizenship......Page 26 1. Revolutionary Endgame: Globalization and the Trajectory of Narrative......Page 28 2. Erotic Transgression and Recodification of Values in Asturias’s Mulata......Page 51 3. Identity or Literariness: The Emergence of a New Maya Literature......Page 74 PART II: Forever Menchú......Page 108 4. Authoring Ethnicized Subjects: The Performative Production of the Subaltern Self......Page 110 5. After the Controversy: Lessons Learned about Subalternity and the Indigenous Subject......Page 130 6. Reading Truthfully: An American Reading of a Subaltern Text......Page 149 7. The Burning of the Spanish Embassy: Máximo Cajal versus David Stoll......Page 169 PART III: Immigration, Diaspora, and Globalization......Page 188 8. The Maya Movement......Page 190 9. Central American–Americans? Latino and Latin American Subjectivities......Page 209 10. American Central Americans: Invisibility and Representation in the Latino United States......Page 226 Conclusion: Forever Modern, Forever Marginal......Page 244 Notes......Page 252 Bibliography......Page 288 A......Page 304 B......Page 305 C......Page 306 D......Page 308 E......Page 309 G......Page 310 H......Page 312 I......Page 313 L......Page 314 M......Page 315 O......Page 318 P......Page 319 R......Page 320 S......Page 321 U......Page 323 Z......Page 324 Central Americans are one of the largest Latino population groups in the United States. Yet, Arturo Arias argues, the cultural production of Central Americans remains little known to North Americans. In Taking Their Word, Arias complicates notions of the cultural production of Central America, from Mexico in the North to Panama in the South. He charts the literature of Central America's liberation struggles of the 1970s and 1980s, its transformation after peace treaties were signed, the emergence of a new Maya literature that decenters Latin American literature written in Spanish, and the rise and fall of testimonio . Arias demonstrates that Central America and its literature are marked by an indigenousness that has never before been fully theorized or critically grasped. Never one to avoid controversy, Arias proffers his views of how the immigration of Central Americans to North America has changed the cultural topography of both zones. With this groundbreaking work, Arias establishes the importance of Central American literature and provides a frame for future studies of the region's culture. Arturo Arias is director of Latin American studies at the University of Redlands. He is the author of six novels in Spanish and editor of The Rigoberta Menchú Controversy (Minnesota, 2001). Revolutionary endgame : globalization and the trajectory of narrative Erotic transgression and recodification of values in Asturia's Mulata Identity or literariness : the emergence of a New Maya literature Authoring ethnicized subjects : the performative production of the subaltern self After the controversy : lessons learned about subalternity and the indigenous subject Reading truthfully : an American reading of a subaltern text The burning of the Spanish embassy : Máximo Cajal versus David Stoll on, The Maya movement Central American-Americans? : Latino and Latin American subjectivities American Central Americans : Iivisibility and representation in the Latino United States Forever modern, forever marginal.