Onda Latina

The KUT Longhorn Radio Network Presents: Mexican American Experience Collection

Audio recordings including interviews, music, and informational programs related to the Mexican American community and their concerns in the series "The Mexican American Experience" and "A esta hora conversamos" from the Longhorn Radio Network, 1976-1982.

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PROGRAM INFO

Title:
Chicano Literature: The Theme Of Cultural Resistance
Program #
1980-45
Theme:
Culture

Series:
Literature
Host:
Linda Fregoso
Guests:
Juan Rodríguez, Raul Salinas
Date:
Oct 14, 1980

Chicano Literature: the theme of cultural resistance

Juan Rodriguez, a professor in the Center for Mexican American Studies, discusses the development of Chicano literature and poet Raul Salinas reads some of his work. Rodriguez explains that Chicano literature largely reflects its working class origins. He then discusses the different types of Chicano literature. He explains that it originated in the late 19th century and is infused with Chicano struggles against Anglo domination in the southwest. This theme appears in multiple genres of Chicano literature, including corridos, legends, and jokes, which were passed on orally and only later recorded. He argues that because of limited educational opportunities, Chicanos did not fully develop a written literary tradition until after World War II.

In the mid-1960s, poetry became the most popular form of Chicano literature, in part because activists could easily incorporate poems into political speeches, demonstrations or newspapers. Salinas then reads from his poem, “Un trip through the Mind Jail.”

Rodriguez next discusses drama and its popularity among Chicanos. He traces its roots to Luis Valdez’ Teatro Campesino which appealed to Chicanos of various class backgrounds. Rodriguez also explains the novel’s limited appeal in the middle of the century. Rodriguez then discusses the popularity of cultural resistance as a theme in Chicano literature. He explains that contemporary Chicano writers have sought to use their work to educate the community about its indigenous heritage. Rodriguez concludes with a brief discussion of recent efforts to increase the distribution of Chicano literature.

KEYWORDS

Actos
Alurista
American Indian Movement
Americo Paredes
Aztecs
Baile Folklorico
Barrio Life
Carta Abierta
Center for Mexican American Studies
Cesar Chavez
Chicano Drama
Chicano Indigenous Heritage
Chicano Literary Movements
Chicano Literature
Chicano Markets
Chicano Movement
Chicano Novels
Chicano Poetry
Chicano Publishers
Chicano Writers
Class and Art
Conflict
Corky Gonzalez
Corridos
Cultural Resistance
Dance
Delano, California
Denver, Colorado
Ethnoliterature
Folk Tales
Folklore
Jokes
Juan Rodriguez
Juan Rodriguez
Las Dos Caras del Patron
Legend
Luis Valdez
Mayas
Middle Class
Novel
Oral Tradition
Political demonstrations
Prisons
Raul Salinas
Raul Salinas
San Antonio, Texas
Socially Conscious Art
Teatro Campesino
The Two Faces of the Patron
Un Trip Through the Mind Jail
United Farm Workers
University of California-Los Angeles
University of Michigan
Working Class
World War II
 

Center for Mexican American Studies | Department of History | The Benson Latin American Collection

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