Greg Knotts: This abstract was culled from the back of the book and the table of contents.
Most anthologies of queer Latino literature and culture concentrate heavily on male homosexualities. "Tortilleras" bucks this trend, focusing exclusively on lesbian Latina work.
The sixteen essays in this volume, edited by Lourdes Torres and Immaculada Pertusa, form a pioneering collection. The chapters examine the contradictions of coming out; the representations of Hispanic and Latina lesbians in literature, theatre, and film; the efforts of Hispanic and Latina lesbians to articulate a presence — be it through resistance or rebellion; and the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, and sexuality in women's lives.
The contributors analyze many significant contemporary cultural texts, including works by Uruguayan writer Christine Peri Rossi, Argentinean filmmaker Maria Luisa Bemberg, and Cuban performance arts Carmelita Tropical to name a few.
"Tortilleras" also looks at the personal and the political. From the expressions of female desire, to the marginalization and oppression of minorities/women, the contributors have addressed universal concerns of what it means to be both Latina and lesbian. This is a groundbreaking book that begins to correct the imbalance of underrepresentation.
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