Scene from the Movie GIANT
At first, the movie Giant (1956) might seem like a strange symbol on which to base an entire book of poetry. But Giant is a pop culture landmark, mainly because of the larger-than-life status of stars Rock Hudson, James Dean, and Elizabeth Taylor. For Latino poet Villanueva, Giant also serves as an archetype of Anglo treatment of Mexican Americans. The scene that obsesses him, from his 14th year onward, involves the expulsion of a Mexican American family from a hamburger joint owned by a crude racist. For Villanueva, the scene is replayed "up and down the wide screen/ Of memory," revealing every ugly facet of racism and intolerance. Villanueva is a rare talent, able to combine art and politics into one powerful document where he is caught "like a still photograph." Recommended for large collections.- Daniel L. Guillory, Millikin Univ., Decatur, Ill.Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.