Mexican PostcardsCarlos Monsiváis is one of Latin America’s most prescient and prolific social commentators. In this, the first English translation of his work, he presents an extraordinary chronicle of contemporary life south of the Rio Grande, which ranges over pop music, Latino hip hop, film stars such as Cantinflas and Dolores del Rio, the writer Juan Rulfo, life on the border with the United States, boleros and melodrama. Monsiváis’s chronicles are theoretically informed but are crammed with people rather than abstractions. They make points of deadly seriousness in a voice which is laconic, satirical and humorous, and which is often written in the register of his subjects. Monsiváis draws on a deep understanding of Mexico’s cultural histories—popular, mass and high—and notes the fascinating ways in which they interact to transform each other. The conflicts between Mexican and North American culture and between modern and traditional ways of life are constant themes of his investigations. A dazzling mixture of reportage, narrative and biting social criticism, Mexican Postcards is certain to establish Monsiváis’s rightful place in the pantheon of Latin America’s greatest writers. |
Contents
High Contrast Still Life | 1 |
Identity Hour or What Photos Would You Take of the Endless City? | 31 |
Tradition Hour | 36 |
The Funky Dive | 48 |
Juan Rulfo | 57 |
The Face as Institution | 71 |
Thats the Point | 88 |
The Pachuco | 106 |
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Common terms and phrases
Agustín Lara amor beauty become believe bolero Boy Fidencio Cabora Cantinflas Cantinflas's Carlos Monsiváis Caro carpa celebration character cinema comedians comic Constanzo crime story cultural dance dead demands Díaz Dolores del Río Dolores's drugs emerges endowed everything faith feel Fernández film Guadalupe Hollywood humour Indian Indio industry joke José Juan kill language Latin America listen literary live look López Luis machismo Manuel marginalized María Candelaria María Félix mass melodrama Mexican Revolution Mexico City Miguel modern Monsiváis's moral mujer murder myth naco nation neighbourhood never novel Pachuco Pancho peasant Pedro Páramo pelado Plutarco Elías Calles poetry police political popular poverty President radio refuses relajo romantic song Rulfo Saint Salvador Novo sentiment singers sings social society soul star Tin Tan Tin Tan's tion tradition Trio urban Utopia village Virgin voice women words Zapatista