Shaping Society through Dance
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A01=Zoila S. Mendoza
Author_Zoila S. Mendoza
Category=ATQZ
Category=JBCC6
Category=JHB
Category=JHMC
eq_art-fashion-photography
eq_bestseller
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
eq_society-politics
Product details
- ISBN 9780226520087
- Weight: 567g
- Dimensions: 16 x 24mm
- Publication Date: 01 Aug 2000
- Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Hardback
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During the patron saint fiesta in the Andean town of San Jeronimo, Peru, crowds gather at sunset in the town square, eagerly awaiting the entrance of the colourful dance troupes, or "comparsas". With their masks, music and surprising interpretations of contemporary events, the "comparsas" 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 "comparsas" -recorded here on video 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. 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 colour 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.
