9780472072644, 0472072641, 9780472052646, and 0472052640
Description:
xiii, 272 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Bibliographic Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-241) and index
Contents:
Conga! Latin numbers and the good neighbor era -- Stealth Latinos: casting the limits of racial legibility at midcentury -- How the sharks became Puerto Rican -- Executing the stereotype -- Carlos comes out: gay Latin/o lovers in the AIDS era
Summary:
"Latin Numbers is a work of performance history, examining the way in which Latino actors on the 20th century stage and screen communicated and influenced American ideas about race and ethnicity. Brian Eugenio Herrera looks at how these performances and performers contributed to American popular understanding of Latinos as a distinct racial and ethnic group. His book tracks the conspicuously "Latin" musical number; the casting of Latino actors; the history of West Side Story; how Latina/o performers confront stereotypes; and the proliferation of the gay Latino character in the AIDS era. With a flair for storytelling and a unique ability to see the deeper meanings embedded in popular culture, Herrera creates a history that will appeal to popular culture enthusiasts, theater aficionados, and those interested in the cultural history of Latinos. The book will also delight readers interested in the memorable (and many of the lesser-known) Latino performances on stage and screen."-- Provided by publisher