Subject: Re: Chicano/Latino Narratives
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 11:32:17 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Ralph R Bauer" <bauerral-AT-pilot.msu.edu>


Beatriz:
You are surely right in pointing out the importance of the US
(mulitcultural) context for Chicano writing (and vice versa). I didn't mean to
suggest that it is an either/or issue ("Latin" American or US American).
I just wanted to suggest that, since Chicano writing straddles any
conceivable nationalist boundaries in geographical as well as in temporal ways
("Rio Grande," "1848," "1787," "1492"), it is best read in a Pan-American
context, which would, of course, include the US but lies beyond any one
nationalist E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Cheers,
Ralph

>
> Ralph,
>
> In a message dated 96-04-26 13:06:09 EDT, you write:
>
> >You are surely right that this distinction should be made. I do think,
> >however,
> >(and I speak from experience) that Chicano texts are sometimes better read
> IN
> >THE CONTEXT OF Latino culture(s) (rather than in the context of the US
> >multicultural nationalist song). There is an entire range of attitudes
> toward
> >and issues of transculturation that can be addressed in the dialogues,
> >differences, and similarities among these texts (just think, for only one
> >example, of Octavio Paz's portrayal of Chicano culture in "The Pachuco and
> >Other Extremes")
>
> I don't understand clearly why Chicano texts must be read within the context
> of Latino cultures rather than US multicultural.  After all, they have come
> out of the US context of multicultures, not just from Latin America but from
> all over the world.  The rubbing of culture against culture in the US
> influences the resulting product.  It is not just the Chicano or Latino
> vis-a-vis the Anglo, mainstream.  It is everyone vis-a-vis everyone else.
> Greetings,
> Beatriz
>
>
>      --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
>



     --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---