That Discerning Eye: Vision, Race, and the State in Modern Latin American Literature

This series of overlapping essays examines the articulation of race and the state as it appears in literary and cultural discourse in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Authors and works discussed include Brazilian authors Aluízio de Azevedo (O Mulato), Mário de Andrade (modernismo, canonicity and ethnography), Gilberto Freyre (Casa-Grande e Senzala and other writings), and … More That Discerning Eye: Vision, Race, and the State in Modern Latin American Literature

Sobre el tiempo

We are to economize on time, protect time, save time, conserve time, and work quickly but less is said about using time. I stayed up late last night writing a draft that I had to be in an altered state of sorts to write because in order to write it, I was going to have to … More Sobre el tiempo

William Jenkins

I have never been able to stand this man and I am so glad the Daily Reveille recommends standing up to him. “I was impressed with the commitment of everyone in the room to do what’s right for LSU,” Griffin said. “We all believe there are wonderful ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness through technology. I … More William Jenkins

Ouidad

I have no middle name and was always told I could choose my own. I toyed with this as a child but in the end could not choose just one. My youngest brother, who is adopted, chose his own name in the end but made it out of pre-existing elements: his name in high school … More Ouidad

Poesía y guerra

The post of the day is from Clarissa and gives step by step instructions on how to deal with my ex — who actually said, when I left, that I had no right to do so since I did not have his permission. I said this to him: 1. I am not responsible for your illness, … More Poesía y guerra

On democracy in America

DJ: You begin the book with a quote from Edmund Randolph, General Washington’s aide-de-camp and the country’s first Attorney General, speaking to the Constitutional Convention: “Our chief danger arises from the democratic parts of our [state] constitutions.” It should be no surprise to those well-read in American history that our founders were critics of democracy. … More On democracy in America

What I mean, #3

Once again, I like The Compleat Academic because it is realistic and does not condescend. It does not assume incompetence, and it does not recommend fear. If I were a linguist I would you go through what is mostly said to graduate students and assistant professors and study the vocabulary. It is about how you … More What I mean, #3