Propriety and Permissiveness in Bourbon Mexico / Edition 1

by Juan Pedro Viqueira Alban, Sonya Lipsett-Rivera, Sergio Rivera-Ayala

Overview

The eighteenth century in New Spain witnessed major changes: among these, one of the most significant was the adoption of French customs among the upper groups of society in response to the spreading ideas of the Enlightenment. In addition, New Spain's economy and culture were also changing radically.

The spread of these French-inspired ideas and customs soon reached the rest of urban society. These new ideas, it has been assumed, brought a relaxation of social customs.

But Viqueira Alban takes this assumption, and raises the question: Was it really a period of relaxation of social customs, in this age of "growth without development?" He discovered that the movement of rural workers and their families to urban centers created a concern within the church and government hierarchy about the threat of disorder, leading to the need for new social restraints. By the end of the eighteenth century, New Spain was characterized by a very rich, agitated, and varied social life.

This book explores the history of Mexico City in the eighteenth century, focusing on society, social classes, elite culture and popular culture. Propriety and Permissiveness examines how the elite culture in Mexico City attempted to create more space between themselves and the masses. Their anxiety about their status encouraged laws and practices that enforced social space. Bullfighting, the theater, street diversions, and the game of pelota (called jai-alai in the United States today) are all examined as part of the culture of this period.

This new text is ideal for colonial Latin American survey courses, courses on the history of Mexico and Latin American literature, and courses on the popular culture and social history of Latin America.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780842024679
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	09/01/1999
Series:	Latin American Silhouettes
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.52(w) x 8.94(h) x 0.92(d)

About the Author

Sonya Lipsett-Rivera is associate professor of history at Carleton University. Sergio Rivera-Ayala is an instructor in the School of Extension of the Universidad Autònoma de México in Canada.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: The Decline of Propriety Chapter 2 From the Don Juans to the Patriots Chapter 3 Progress or the Theater Chapter 4 Disorder or Street Diversions Chapter 5 The New Order, or Pelota

Editorial Reviews

Propriety and Permissiveness' power to instruct as well as entertain has been preserved in this limpid, accessible English translation.

William B. Taylor

A fascinating examination of social customs.

Choice Reviews

Propriety and Permissiveness' power to instruct as well as entertain has been preserved in this limpid, accessible English translation.--William B. Taylor, University of California, Berkeley

A fascinating examination of social customs.--CHOICE

From the Publisher

A fascinating examination of social customs.

Choice

A fascinating examination of social customs.

CHOICE

Exploring the period in Mexico City when the elites began to adopt French customs in response to the spreading ideas of the Enlightenment, this book examines how elite culture attempted to create more space between themselves and what they viewed as the disorderly masses. Among the cultural aspects discussed are bullfighting, the theater, street diversions, and the game of pelota (known to the U.S. as jai-alai). Translated from the Spanish work . Paper edition (unseen), $19.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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