The Social Conscience of Latin American Writing

by Naomi Lindstrom

Overview

A CHOICE Outstanding Academic Book

Literature in Latin America has long been a vehicle for debates over the interpretation of social history, cultural identity, and artistic independence. Indeed, Latin American literature has gained international respect for its ability to present social criticism through works of imaginative creation.

In this comprehensive, up-to-the-minute survey of research and opinion by leading Latin American cultural and literary critics, Naomi Lindstrom examines five concepts that are currently the focus of intense debate among Latin American writers and thinkers. Writing in simple, clear terms for both general and specialist readers of Latin American literature, she explores the concepts of autonomy and dependency, postmodernism, literary intellectuals and the mass media, testimonial literature, and gender issues, including gay and lesbian themes. Excerpts (in English) from relevant literary works illustrate each concept, while Lindstrom also traces its passage from the social sciences to literature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780292778115
Publisher:	University of Texas Press
Publication date:	01/01/2010
Series:	Texas Pan American Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	199
File size:	556 KB

About the Author

Naomi Lindstrom is Professor of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Texas at Austin and is affiliated with the Program in Comparative Literature.

Table of Contents

• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• One. Autonomy and Dependency in Latin American Writing
• Two. Postmodernism in Latin American Literary Culture
• Three. Testimonial Narrative: Whose Text?
• Four. Literary Intellectuals and Mass Media
• Five. Latin American Women's Writing and Gender Issues in Criticism
• Conclusion
• Notes
• Selected Bibliography
• Index

What People are Saying About This

John S. Brushwood

On one level, this is a brilliant scholarly answer to the bedeviling question asked by non-Latin Americanists, 'What is Latin American literature like?' On another level, it coordinates and clarifies, for specialists, the complex of current issues that are often confusing and even discouraging because they are incompletely understood..
— John S. Brushwood, Roberts Professor Emeritus of Latin American Literature, University of Kansas

Editorial Reviews

Presents and discusses five concepts useful in approaching Latin American writing, for readers interested in Latin America as a region rather than those wishing to specialize in technical aspects of literary criticism. Each chapter presents one concept and examines the transformations the concept has undergone to apply to literature from Latin America. Subjects include autonomy and dependency, testimonial narrative, postmodernism, literary intellectuals and mass media, and women's writing and gender issues. Paper edition (74699-7), $12.95. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

Lindstrom's concise, yet sophisticated, synthesis sets out the broad, complex, and interrelated themes of social and economic inequalities between cultures and nations; the meaning of postmodernism in Latin American culture; the difficulty of obtaining first-hand accounts from nonmainstream groups; the effects of technology on modern life; and the incorporation of gendered perspectives into the critical discourse. Lindstrom writes for the English speaking non-specialist, but specialists will also welcome her cogent exposition of significant, but often confusing, issues.

Hispanic Review