The Mexican Corrido: A Feminist Analysis

By María Herrera-Sobek

Book Overview

... well-written and well-documented landmark study... " --Choice This book raises important ideological and esthetic questions about the interpretation of artistic and cultural manifestations in a given society."--Hispanic American Historical Review The present volume is provocative in direction and a refreshing addition to the extant literature on the Mexican corrido genre." --American Ethnologist [Herrera-Sobek's] refreshing approach to analyzing masculine attitudes toward the feminine as expressed in the Mexican corrido is not only insightful but courageous." --Inez Cardozo-Freeman, Southern Folklore ... well-researched, insightful, clearly written, and well-illustrated study of a genre familiar in Hispanic culture." --Journal of the American Studies Association ... provides tantalizing insights into the inner workings and meanings of Mexico's favorite folk ballads..." --Journal of Third World Studies Challenging the stereotypical view of the passive Mexican/Chicana woman of the archetype, the author examines the portrayal of female figures in over three thousand corridos or Mexican ballads and shows that in spite of long-dominant patriarchal ideology, the corridos reveal the presence of self-confident women throughout Mexican history. Included are a discography, a detailed bibliography of corrido collections, and several photographs of soldaderas from the internationally famous Augustin Casasola collection.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0253207959
• ISBN13: 9780253207951
• Release Date: July 1990
• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Interesting take on a tradition

When one thinks of the classical Mexican corrido, thoughts of Jungian archetypes and the words of Joseph Campbell usually do not come into mind. But Mrs. Sobek does just that and much more in this fascinating book. Drawing upon four archetypes of women in Mexican society, she proceeds to define them and put them against the archetypes of classical mythology. She also gives an insight into the Mexican female psyche, along with her role in history. Can hold up as its own work, though it goes hand in hand with her other book on corridos dealing with the immigrant experience.