Can I read Shaping Society through Dance: Mestizo Ritual Performance in the Peruvian Andes (Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology) on EtoBox?

Shaping Society through Dance: Mestizo Ritual Performance in the Peruvian Andes (Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology) by Mendoza, Zoila S., 1960- is a book available to read on EtoBox.

What is Shaping Society through Dance: Mestizo Ritual Performance in the Peruvian Andes (Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology) about?

<p>During the patron saint fiesta in the Andean town of San Jerónimo, Peru, crowds gather at sunset in the town square, eagerly awaiting the entrance of the colorful dance troupes, or <i>comparsas</i>. With their masks, music, and surprising interpretations of contemporary events, the <i>comparsas</i> of the Cusco region are the focus of this multifaceted work. At the crossroads of folklore and ritual, mass media and local preferences, and regional and national identity, the <i>comparsas</i>—recorded here on VHS, DVD,&nbsp;and compact disc—have become a powerful way for the local people to make sense of their place in Peru and in the world. As Zoila Mendoza shows, they do more than reflect societal changes, they actively transform society.</p> <p>In this fluid world, she argues, racial and ethnic identities are shaped more by notions of what is decent, elegant, and modern rather than by skin color or status. As the different troupes vie for the townspeople's recognition as the most "authentic" group, these notions are challenged and reworked. A fascinating look at a rich tradition, this innovative work is also a compelling example of the critical anthropology of performance.</p>

Author

Mendoza, Zoila S., 1960-

Publisher

Chicago: University of Chicago Press

Published

2000

Language

EN

ISBN

9780226520087

Subjects

Anthropology, Social_sciences