Latin American Popular Culture: An Introduction

Latin American Popular Culture: An Introduction is a collection of articles that explores a wide range of compelling cultural subjects in the region, including carnival, romance, funerals, medicine, monuments and dance, among others. The introduction lays out the most important theoretical approaches to the culture of Latin America, and the chapters serve as illustrative case studies. Featuring the latest scholarship in cultural history most of the chapters have not previously been published Latin American Popular Culture is an important resource for courses in Latin American history, civilization, popular culture, and anthropology.

Exploring the cultural focus of an entire continent is a daunting task, but for the 13 academics hereDmission accomplished. The essays, only two of which are reprints, share the Latin American theme yet represent unique contributions to scholarship by employing cultural events or activities to relate a nation's history and social awareness. Essays by Pamela Voekel and Matthew D. Esposito take a cemetery and a funeral as their settings, while two other articles report on national exhibits at world expositions to demonstrate the efforts of Argentina and Ecuador to present themselves as civilized nations. John Chasteen, Darien Davis, and Graham Holton turn to music and dance as forms of popular culture. In one of the reprinted essays, Nancy Stepan reviews a volume of photographs depicting medicine and health in Brazil. Collectively, the essays overcome the stigma often attached to the study of popular culture as a legitimate academic discipline that provides insight into intellectual and cultural character and the distinguishing "images, practices, and institutions" that create national identities. Recommended for academic libraries.DBoyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Lib., AL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.