Chicano and Chicana Literature: Otra Voz Del PuebloThe literary culture of the Spanish-speaking Southwest has its origins in a harsh frontier environment marked by episodes of intense cultural conflict, and much of the literature seeks to capture the epic experiences of conquest and settlement. The Chicano literary canon has evolved rapidly over four centuries to become one of the most dynamic, growing, and vital parts of what we know as contemporary U.S. literature. In this comprehensive examination of Chicano and Chicana literature, Charles M. Tatum brings a new and refreshing perspective to the ethnic identity of Mexican Americans. From the earliest sixteenth-century chronicles of the Spanish Period, to the poetry and narrative fiction of the second half of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century, and then to the flowering of all literary genres in the post–Chicano Movement years, Chicano/a literature amply reflects the hopes and aspirations as well as the frustrations and disillusionments of an often marginalized population. Exploring the work of Rudolfo Anaya, Sandra Cisneros, Luis Alberto Urrea, and many more, Tatum examines the important social, historical, and cultural contexts in which the writing evolved, paying special attention to the Chicano Movement and the flourishing of literary texts during the 1960s and early 1970s. Chapters provide an overview of the most important theoretical and critical approaches employed by scholars over the past forty years and survey the major trends and themes in contemporary autobiography, memoir, fiction, and poetry. The most complete and up-to-date introduction to Chicana/o literature available, this book will be an ideal reference for scholars of Hispanic and American literature. Discussion questions and suggested reading included at the end of each chapter are especially suited for classroom use. |
Contents
List of Illustrations ix | 3 |
The Origins and Evolution of Chicanao Literature | 36 |
Chicanao Autobiography | 83 |
Copyright | |
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activists Albuquerque Alicia Gaspar Alurista Anaya Angeles Anglo Arizona Press Arte Público Press aspects autobiography Award Aztlán Baca barrio began Bilingual book of poetry California cana/o Candelaria century chapter Chávez Chicana feminist Chicana/o culture Chicana/o literary Chicana/o literature Chicana/o narrative fiction Chicana/o playwrights Chicana/o poetry Chicana/o writers Chicano Movement Cisneros collection contemporary Chicana/o corrido critics cultural studies Denise Chávez discussed dominant El Teatro Campesino ethnic example experience feminist figure Francisco Gary Soto Gaspar de Alba Hispanic Houston José Juan Kanellos language lesbian literary texts lives Luis Luis Valdez Mexican American Mexico Press migrant Moraga oral histories Padilla Paredes Paso Pérez play Poems poets political published racism readers Rebolledo Ríos Rodríguez Rolando Hinojosa role Saldívar Sánchez Sandra Cisneros sexual short story social Southwest Spanish struggle Teatro Campesino Tey Diana themes theory tion Tomás traditional Tucson U.S.-Mexico border United University of Arizona Vietnam woman women York young