Hispanisms (Hispanic) and Homosexualities (13 Essays)

The late 20th century has produced a great deal of writing on homosexuality, mostly centered on the lives of those in mainstream American (primarily white) culture. Sylvia Molloy and Robert McKee Irwin's Hispanisms and Homosexualities is a stunning reminder that the complexities and intricacies of gay and lesbian life and desire permeate all cultures. This collection of 13 essays covers a wide range of topics, from spirited debates about the nature of masculinity in late-19th-century Mexican literature to the Inquisition's response to transgendered people, from an examination of lesbianism in the golden age of Spanish fiction to the politics of the closet in contemporary Spanish culture. The anthology is at its best when discussing the works of individual artists and writers: Emilie Bergmann's essay on the lesbian subtext of Maria Louise Bemberg's films and Brad Epps's analysis of Juan Goytisolo's novels are two insightful and illuminating examples. The politics of culture are also examined at length, particularly the effects of Cuba's antigay policies on art and culture (discussed in Paul Julian Smith's essay on the novels of Reinaldo Arenas and Nestor Almendros) and the ways AIDS has changed images of Latino men (in José Esteban Muñoz's piece on Pedro Zamora, the late star of MTV's The Real World). --Michael Bronski