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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
Read for class and enjoyed it as much as any other class reading with writing pressing. Very vivid descriptions of the borderlands or the space between two or more...other spaces, entities, countries, lives, etc.
I'd like to sip and savor, but I had to gulp and guzzle. I may pick it up again though, outside of the necessary forthcoming citations.
I'd like to sip and savor, but I had to gulp and guzzle. I may pick it up again though, outside of the necessary forthcoming citations.
Interesting and provides some good insights. However, the Indigenous erasure and racism are present throughout.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This book really has helped me while I've been on an identity journey with my mestiza self. Anzaldua hits on things that are hard to pin point with words, but she does a great job of it anyway. Very inspiring work.
The worst part about reading this book is knowing that Gloria Anzaldua died way too soon, far before her time, and that she had so much more to say, and that eventually you get to the end where there is no more to say. That's the hard part.
As a white person unfamiliar with xicanx/chicanx studies, I stumbled through a lot of this, re-reading lines, picking out what few words in Spanish I can understand -- fortunately, for several of the Spanish poems, there is an English translation (I know, I know, I need to learn Spanish. Forgive me, Duolingo). The pieces are not just pieces of poetry, but pieces of Anzaldua herself, who has offered up various parts of her identity and presented them to us at the crossroads, in the borderlands, for us to see and to take in every way we can.
In one of the final poems of the book; "to live in the borderlands means you", she writes:
"To survive the Borderlands
you must live sin fronteras
be a crossroads"
Here we see her stumbling (not in the same way as me) through her own identities, reclaiming her lost heritage and ancestral roots torn from her by the horrors of colonialism. She talks of Tejas, the land formerly belonging to Mexico, stolen by the united states which became what we now know as Texas, she talks of Coatlicue, Tlazōlteōtl, and her parents and grandparents.
She then combines this with criticisms of patriarchy, toxic masculinity, and homophobia that she and other Chicanx women have dealt with for centuries; she not only challenges machismo, but unravels its now-toxic presence to reveal its earlier origin, before colonialism, when it meant a strong man who could provide for his family.
Many references are made to her tearing her own body open, or her body being torn in many places, and that is what she does -- it is painful, not just for her, but for the reader and it is painful for many different reasons depending on what kind of reader you are. Regardless, you will not be able to go away from this book no longer ignoring Chicanx culture and life, and its revitalization over the last 50 years.
From "La conciencia de la mestiza/Towards a New Consciousness":
"The land was Mexican once
was Indian always
and is.
And will be again."
Gloria Anzaldua, presente!
As a white person unfamiliar with xicanx/chicanx studies, I stumbled through a lot of this, re-reading lines, picking out what few words in Spanish I can understand -- fortunately, for several of the Spanish poems, there is an English translation (I know, I know, I need to learn Spanish. Forgive me, Duolingo). The pieces are not just pieces of poetry, but pieces of Anzaldua herself, who has offered up various parts of her identity and presented them to us at the crossroads, in the borderlands, for us to see and to take in every way we can.
In one of the final poems of the book; "to live in the borderlands means you", she writes:
"To survive the Borderlands
you must live sin fronteras
be a crossroads"
Here we see her stumbling (not in the same way as me) through her own identities, reclaiming her lost heritage and ancestral roots torn from her by the horrors of colonialism. She talks of Tejas, the land formerly belonging to Mexico, stolen by the united states which became what we now know as Texas, she talks of Coatlicue, Tlazōlteōtl, and her parents and grandparents.
She then combines this with criticisms of patriarchy, toxic masculinity, and homophobia that she and other Chicanx women have dealt with for centuries; she not only challenges machismo, but unravels its now-toxic presence to reveal its earlier origin, before colonialism, when it meant a strong man who could provide for his family.
Many references are made to her tearing her own body open, or her body being torn in many places, and that is what she does -- it is painful, not just for her, but for the reader and it is painful for many different reasons depending on what kind of reader you are. Regardless, you will not be able to go away from this book no longer ignoring Chicanx culture and life, and its revitalization over the last 50 years.
From "La conciencia de la mestiza/Towards a New Consciousness":
"The land was Mexican once
was Indian always
and is.
And will be again."
Gloria Anzaldua, presente!
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Borderlands/La Frontera : The New Mestiza is an outstanding work of literature that delves into the complex and often difficult experience of being a Chicana ( a woman of Mexican-American descent), living in the United States. This book is a compelling mixture of personal reflection, cultural analysis and critical theory from Anzaldua. One of the strengths of The New Mestiza is Anzaldua's ability to weave together her own experiences as a Chicana with broader political and social issues. She writes with both passion and clarity, conveying the intensity of her emotions and the complexity of her ideas in a way that is both accessible and engaging. Whether she is discussing the politics of language, the impact of colonialism on indigenous peoples, or the challenges facing women of color in academia, Anzaldua writes w and incisive voice that leaves a lasting impression.
Another key strength of The New Mestiza is the ay that Anzaldua uses her personal experience to shed light on broader issues of identity, culture, and power. Through her own struggles with racism, homophobia, and sxism, Anzaldua offers a powerful critique of the ways that dominant society seeks to marginalize and erase the experiences of those who do not fit neatly into its narrow categories of identity. She argues that it is precisely in the spaces between cultures, and identities, that new forms of resistance and solidarity can emerge.
Despite its strengths, The New Mestiza is not without flaws. At times, the book can be somewhat dense and difficult to follow particularly for readers who are unfamiliar with the critical theory and cultural analysis that underpin Anzaldua's work. Additionally, some readers may find the book's strong emphasis on the experiences of Chicana women to be limiting, or may wish for a more intersectional approach that takes into account the experiences of other marginalized groups. However, I still find the book is an essential read for anyone interested in issues of identity, culture, and power. The author's prose that is combined with her analysis and personal reflections make this a book that leaves a lasting impact on readers.
Another key strength of The New Mestiza is the ay that Anzaldua uses her personal experience to shed light on broader issues of identity, culture, and power. Through her own struggles with racism, homophobia, and sxism, Anzaldua offers a powerful critique of the ways that dominant society seeks to marginalize and erase the experiences of those who do not fit neatly into its narrow categories of identity. She argues that it is precisely in the spaces between cultures, and identities, that new forms of resistance and solidarity can emerge.
Despite its strengths, The New Mestiza is not without flaws. At times, the book can be somewhat dense and difficult to follow particularly for readers who are unfamiliar with the critical theory and cultural analysis that underpin Anzaldua's work. Additionally, some readers may find the book's strong emphasis on the experiences of Chicana women to be limiting, or may wish for a more intersectional approach that takes into account the experiences of other marginalized groups. However, I still find the book is an essential read for anyone interested in issues of identity, culture, and power. The author's prose that is combined with her analysis and personal reflections make this a book that leaves a lasting impact on readers.
