Latin numbers
Subtitle: playing Latino in twentieth-century U.S. popular performance
By: Brian Eugenio Herrera
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
Published: 2015
Language: eng
Number of pages: 272
ISBN-13: 9780472072644; 9780472052646
Subjects: Hispanic Americans in the performing arts; Hispanic Americans; Ethnic identity; Hispanic Americans in popular culture
Description: "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."--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-241) and index.