Chicanx Utopias

Luis Alvarez is an associate professor of history at the University of California, San Diego. He is the author of The Power of the Zoot: Youth Culture and Resistance during World War II.

• IntroductionChapter 1. Salt of the EarthChapter 2. Brown-Eyed SoulChapter 3. Chico and KotterChapter 4. No Human Being Is IllegalChapter 5. Border ReggaeCoda: NgātahiAcknowledgmentsNotesBibliographyIndex

[Chicanx Utopias] opens new doors for understanding the complicated relationships that exist among television, film, music, art, people, politics, and social movements from the post-World War II years to the 2000s...This book is a valuable addition to the various conversations happening in Latinx/Chicanx studies, ethnic studies, cultural studies and many other disciplines. (Southwestern Historical Quarterly) Alvarez’s focus on utopias is a fresh take on Chicanx cultural history...Alvarez’s expansive interdisciplinary scholarship-covering over five decades of Chicanx popular culture-makes Chicanx Utopias an important addition to the fields of Chicanx cultural studies, Chicanx history, and pop culture studies, and to the scholarship on utopias. (Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies) [Alvarez] provides a passionate, in-depth analysis of the social impact of these cultural productions, incorporating historical accounts, film assessments, and primary materials. An insightful analysis of Chicanx pop culture, this volume is sure to inspire new directions in future research on this subject. Every library should obtain a copy for its Chicanx studies and ethnic studies collections. (CHOICE) A comprehensive source on Chicanx popular culture... The book seems to be resourceful both for those interested in Chicanx (pop) culture and politics as well as for those studying the general connection between the media and political discourse. Furthermore, the book not only is a well-researched academic source contributing to the relevant literature but also proves to be an easy-to-follow read for the more casual reader. (H-Net Reviews) There is a long, rich tradition of scholarly attention to the study of utopia. Within this tradition, however, is the dearth of attention given to utopia in Chicanx history and culture . . . Any reader seeking the opportunity to learn about forms of utopia in Chicanx popular culture and varied examples of Chicanx popular culture will not be disappointed. . . . Chicanx Utopias carves a narrow analytical path through a broad field of cultural references, resulting in an impressive, additive contribution to Latinx studies, history, and popular culture. (Journal of American Culture) Chicanx Utopias is a valuable and timely study. The book's accessible writing style, focus on pop culture, and attention to how class, race, and gender intersect(ed) in the lives and works of the artists it discusses make it an important addition to contemporary Chicanx/Latinx studies. (Journal of American History) Chicanx Utopias is a dazzling intervention into the study of contemporary and historical Chicana/o/x popular culture that notably advances recent Latina/o/x studies scholarship on Blackness, music, and subcultures. (Latino Studies)