The Spectacular City, Mexico, and Colonial Hispanic Literary Culture (Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Series in Latin American and Latino Art and Culture)

Winner, Katherine Singer Kovacs Prize, Modern Language Association, 2010 The Spectacular City, Mexico, and Colonial Hispanic Literary Culture tracks the three spectacular forces of New World literary culture—cities, festivals, and wonder—from the sixteenth to the seventeenth century, from the Old World to the New, and from Mexico to Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. It treats a multitude of imperialist and anti-imperialist texts in depth, including poetry, drama, protofiction, historiography, and journalism. While several of the landmark authors studied, including Hernán Cortés and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, are familiar, others have received remarkably little critical attention. Similarly, in spotlighting creole writers, Merrim reveals an intertextual tradition in Mexico that spans two centuries. Because the spectacular city reaches its peak in the seventeenth century, Merrim's book also theorizes and details the spirited work of the New World Baroque. The result is the rich examination of a trajectory that leads from the Renaissance ordered city to the energetic revolts of the spectacular city and the New World Baroque. Contents 6 Preface 8 Introduction 12 Chapter One. Agile Platforms of the Spectacular City: The New World and the Old 24 I. The Period of Stabilization and the Creoles 25 II. City 29 III. Festival 34 IV. Wonder 40 V. Managing the New World 49 VI. Conclusion: The Work of the New World Baroque 56 Chapter Two. Order and Concert 60 I. Entering the Ordered City 60 II. Epistemic Violence 62 III. Hernan Cortes and Bernal Diaz del Castillo 67 IV. Urban Planning 72 V. Alonso de Zorita and Francisco Cervantes de Salazar 76 VI. Juan de la Cueva and Eugenio de Salazar Y Alarcon 91 Chapter Three. Balbuena's "La Grandeza Mecixana" and the Advent of the Spectacular City 102 I. Introduction: "Bosque Ideal Que Lo Real Complica" 102 II. From the Selvas de Erifile to "La Grandeza Mexicana" 105 III. Liminality and Metamorphoses 114 IV. The "Architexture" of the Spectacular City 127 V. The Poetics of the Marketplace 132 Chapter Four. Balbuena's Spectacular City and the Creole Cause 139 I. Creoles, Merchants, and "La Grandeza Mexicana" 140 II. Exorbitance and Structures of Feeling 143 III. Toward the Mexican Archive: Dorantes de Carranza 146 IV. Disarticulations: Arias de Villalobos 151 Chapter Five. Engaging Plurality: Baroque Plenitude and the Spectacular City in Mexico 158 I. Seventeenth-Century Plurality and Plenitude 158 II. Agustin de Vetancurt and Mexican Multiplicity 161 III. Hegemony and Heterogeneity in the Baroque Spectacular City 165 IV. Vehicles of Plurality: Ruins and Rifts 168 V. Creole Plurality 174 Chapter Six. "To Know the All": The Spectacular Esoteric City in Mexico 206 I. Two Cities 206 II. Creoles and the Esoteric City 209 III. To Know the All: Kircher in Mexico 216 IV. To Know the All and the Fin de Siecle 231 V. Riot and Disruptions 248 Chapter Seven. Babel: Wild Work of the Baroque 258 I. Baroque Times 258 II. Babel: Anatomy of the Exposes 262 III. Wild Work of the Baroque: Spectacularizing the New World 268 IV. Sin Cities 276 V. Judgment Day 290 Postscript: Redeeming Babel 302 Appendix. Chronology of Principal Works 306 Notes 308 Introduction 308 Chapter One 309 Chapter Two 316 Chapter Three 321 Chapter Four 327 Chapter Five 328 Chapter Six 336 Chapter Seven 341 Works Cited 348 Index 366 0292723075,9780292723078 University of Texas Press Stephanie Merrim Offers A Dynamic Interdisciplinary Approach To Colonial Hispanic Writing Based On The Spectacular City, A Model That Encompasses Three Driving Forces Of New World Literary Culture: Cities, Festivals, And Wonder. [this Book] Tracks The Three Spectacular Forces From The Sixteenth To The Seventeenth Century, From The Old World To The New, And From Mexico To Colombia, Peru, And Bolivia. It Treats A Multitude Of Imperialist And Anti-imperialist Texts In Depth, Including Poetry, Drama, Protofiction, Historiography, And Journalism. While Several Of The Landmark Authors Studies, Including Hernán Cortés And Sor Juana Inés De La Cruz, Are Familiar, Others Have Received Remarkably Little Critical Attention. Similarly, In Spotlighting Creole Writers, Merrim Reveals An Intertextual Tradition In Mexico That Spans Two Centuries. Because The Spectacular City Reaches Its Peak In The Seventeenth Century, Merrim's Book Also Theorizes And Details The Spirited Work Of The New World Baroque. The Result Is The Rich Examination Of A Trajectory That Leads From The Renaissance Ordered City To The Energetic Revolts Of The Spectacular City And The New World Baroque. Bringing Anthropology, Art History, Education, History, Literary Theory, Theology, And Urban Studies To Bear On Its Subjects, The Spectacular City With Be Essential Reading For Students And Scholars Of Colonial Latin America. --back Cover. Agile Platforms Of The Spectacular City : The New World And The Old -- Order And Concert -- Balbuena's La Grandeza Mexicana And The Advent Of The Spectacular City -- Balbuena's Spectacular City And The Creole Cause -- Engaging Plurality : Baroque Plenitude And The Spectacular City In Mexico -- To Know The All : The Spectacular Esoteric City In Mexico -- Babel : Wild Work Of The New World Baroque -- Appendix. Chronology Of Principal Works. Stephanie Merrim. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.