Description
Immigration is an important and much-discussed topic throughout the world, and its depiction on screen helps shape the way we perceive this issue. In Migration in Contemporary Hispanic Cinema, Thomas G. Deveny looks at film and immigration with a global perspective, examining emigration and immigration films from Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Central America, and the Hispanic Caribbean. In this volume, Deveny approaches each movie with a close textual analysis, keeping in mind the sociological theories regarding migration, as well as incorporating criticism on the film. Recurring themes, such as the depiction of the "Other," individual identity, and social and cultural contextualization (stereotypes, rejection, acceptance, and change) are identified and discussed. Films such as Flowers from Another World, Return to Hansala, El Camino, 14 Kilometers, Maria Full of Grace, and others are carefully studied. Additional chapters analyze films about Colombian "mules" coming to the United States and Uruguayan prostitutes in Spain, and the final chapter examines Al otro Lado (To the Other Side), a film with narratives involving three nationalities and three destinations, thus showing the global nature of the phenomenon. Through the analyses of immigration and emigration depictions in film, this book enables readers to comprehend the universal nature of migration. Like the films it analyzes, Migration in Contemporary Hispanic Cinema will provide a deeper understanding of people who leave their homeland for a better life.
About the Author
Thomas G. Deveny is professor of Spanish and comparative literature at McDaniel College. His books Cain on Screen: Contemporary Spanish Cinema (1993) and Contemporary Spanish Film from Fiction (1999) were also published by Scarecrow Press.
Reviews
This highly specialized work should find a welcome place in large libraries that specialize in film studies and material on Hispanic culture. * American Reference Books Annual *
Deveny (McDaniel College) carefully traces issues pertaining to migration, a subject commonly treated in Hispanic cinema. A short introduction presents a variety of themes that Spanish and Latin American cinema explore, with particular emphasis on specific reasons for often-massive national immigration patterns. The core of the book stresses the widely popular Hispanic cinematic countries (Spain, Mexico, and Argentina). Other entries present less frequently explored countries (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Uruguay). The book's strength is its easy-to-follow historical approach to the national cinemas' treatments of reasons for large immigration waves. These elements, as Deveny documents, are specific to the country. The impact of the Spanish Civil War is one theme that Spanish directors often explore. Argentines have fully documented the immigration of Europeans to Argentina. Mexicans have thoroughly covered the American influence after the Mexican American War. A chapter on Spanish Caribbean countries (Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico) explores cinematic treatments of these islands' significant immigrations into the US. The discussion of individual films makes the analysis more critical and produces concrete examples to support a lively argument. In addition to those taking traditional courses on Hispanic cultures, students in Latino studies will find this book of interest. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. * CHOICE *
Thomas G. Deveny's Migration in Contemporary Hispanic Cinema is an ambitious work that attempts to trace patterns across a diverse range of films dealing with the topic of migration. As a crucial concern in our contemporary globalized world, migration has become a key theme in Spanish-speaking cinemas. However, in spite of this, there remains a significant gap in terms of scholarship on the importance of migration in this context. This book therefore offers an important contribution to the field, due to its far-reaching geographical scope as well as the vast number of films it references. . . .Overall, the book is noteworthy for its impressive filmographical reach. Some ninety films, both fictional and documentary features, are discussed in detail, and a variety of genres (drama, comedy, thriller) are examined. The breadth of material studied positions this work as a crucial resource for those investigating the topic of migration in a Hispanic context. * Bulletin of Spanish Studies *
Book Information
ISBN 9780810885042
Author Thomas G. Deveny
Format Hardback
Page Count 406
Imprint Scarecrow Press
Publisher Scarecrow Press
Weight(grams) 767g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 160mm * 31mm
About the Author
Thomas G. Deveny is professor of Spanish and comparative literature at McDaniel College. His books Cain on Screen: Contemporary Spanish Cinema (1993) and Contemporary Spanish Film from Fiction (1999) were also published by Scarecrow Press.
Reviews
This highly specialized work should find a welcome place in large libraries that specialize in film studies and material on Hispanic culture. * American Reference Books Annual *
Deveny (McDaniel College) carefully traces issues pertaining to migration, a subject commonly treated in Hispanic cinema. A short introduction presents a variety of themes that Spanish and Latin American cinema explore, with particular emphasis on specific reasons for often-massive national immigration patterns. The core of the book stresses the widely popular Hispanic cinematic countries (Spain, Mexico, and Argentina). Other entries present less frequently explored countries (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Uruguay). The book's strength is its easy-to-follow historical approach to the national cinemas' treatments of reasons for large immigration waves. These elements, as Deveny documents, are specific to the country. The impact of the Spanish Civil War is one theme that Spanish directors often explore. Argentines have fully documented the immigration of Europeans to Argentina. Mexicans have thoroughly covered the American influence after the Mexican American War. A chapter on Spanish Caribbean countries (Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico) explores cinematic treatments of these islands' significant immigrations into the US. The discussion of individual films makes the analysis more critical and produces concrete examples to support a lively argument. In addition to those taking traditional courses on Hispanic cultures, students in Latino studies will find this book of interest. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. * CHOICE *
Thomas G. Deveny's Migration in Contemporary Hispanic Cinema is an ambitious work that attempts to trace patterns across a diverse range of films dealing with the topic of migration. As a crucial concern in our contemporary globalized world, migration has become a key theme in Spanish-speaking cinemas. However, in spite of this, there remains a significant gap in terms of scholarship on the importance of migration in this context. This book therefore offers an important contribution to the field, due to its far-reaching geographical scope as well as the vast number of films it references. . . .Overall, the book is noteworthy for its impressive filmographical reach. Some ninety films, both fictional and documentary features, are discussed in detail, and a variety of genres (drama, comedy, thriller) are examined. The breadth of material studied positions this work as a crucial resource for those investigating the topic of migration in a Hispanic context. * Bulletin of Spanish Studies *
Book Information
ISBN 9780810885042
Author Thomas G. Deveny
Format Hardback
Page Count 406
Imprint Scarecrow Press
Publisher Scarecrow Press
Weight(grams) 767g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 160mm * 31mm
