MACMILLAN Critical Terms in Caribbean and Latin American Thought: Historical and Institutional Trajectories (New Directions in Latino American Cultures)

Through a collection of critical essays, this work explores twelve keywords central in Latin American and Caribbean Studies: indigenismo, Americanism, colonialism, criollismo, race, transculturation, modernity, nation, gender, sexuality, testimonio, and popular culture. The central question motivating this work is how to think―epistemologically and pedagogically―about Latin American and Caribbean Studies as fields that have had different historical and institutional trajectories across the Caribbean, Latin America, and the United States. Review “This transnational tour (and tour de force) around key concepts fosters urgent dialogues and friendly tussles, while putting Latin America into sharp focus in contemporary theoretical debates.  This book challenges us to think more deeply and complexly about our use and misuse of theory. It is soon to be an essential book in all our classrooms... .” (Debra A. Castillo, Emerson Hinchliff Professor of Hispanic Studies, Cornell University, USA) “Poised to be an indispensable intellectual referent for scholars of the region…this carefully curated set of critical terms presents a sustained engagement across authors and regions, allowing the dense intellectual and political investments of the terms to fully emerge.” (Juana María Rodríguez, Professor in Gender and Women's Studies, University of California, Berkeley, USA) “This ground-breaking anthology traces most of the fundamental intellectual debates in Caribbean and Latin American studies, advanced by US, Caribbean, and Latin American based scholars, and gives an unusual and rigorous perspective on the trajectories of key concepts. It reminds us of the urgency of sharing critical references across cultural traditions.” (Marta Lamas, Programa Universitario de Estudios de Género (PUEG), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico) About the Author Yolanda Martínez-San Miguel is Professor of Latino and Hispanic Caribbean Studies and Comparative Literature at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, USA. She is author of From Lack to Excess: 'Minor' Readings of Colonial Latin American Literature and Coloniality of Diasporas: Rethinking Intra-colonial Migrations in a Pan Caribbean Context. Ben. Sifuentes-Jáuregui is Associate Professor of American Studies and Comparative Literature at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, USA. He is author of Transvestism, Masculinity, and Latin American Literature and The Avowal of Difference: Queer Latino American Narratives. Marisa Belausteguigoitia is Professor of Gender/Cultural Studies and Education at the School of Humanities at the National Autonomous University of México (UNAM). She is author with María Josefina Saldaña-Portillo of Des/posesión: Género y territorio y luchas por la autodeterminación.