Mexican Postcards

Presents a chronicle of contemporary life in Mexico, ranging from popular music, Latino hip hop, the murals of Siquerios, film stars, the painter Frida Kahlo, the writer Juan Ruldo, life on the border with the USA and the organization of Mexico City's urban poor in the wake of an earthquake.

Carlos Monsiv&aacute;is is one of Latin America’s most prescient and prolific social commentators. In this, the first English translation of his work, he presents an extraordinary chronicle of contemporary life south of the Rio Grande, which ranges over pop music, Latino hip hop, film stars such as Cantinflas and Dolores del Rio, the writer Juan Rulfo, life on the border with the United States, boleros and melodrama.<br>Monsiv&aacute;is’s chronicles are theoretically informed but are crammed with people rather than abstractions. They make points of deadly seriousness in a voice which is laconic, satirical and humorous, and which is often written in the register of his subjects. Monsiv&aacute;is draws on a deep understanding of Mexico’s cultural histories—popular, mass and high—and notes the fascinating ways in which they interact to transform each other. The conflicts between Mexican and North American culture and between modern and traditional ways of life are constant themes of his investigations.<br>A dazzling mixture of reportage, narrative and biting social criticism, <i>Mexican Postcards</i> is certain to establish Monsiv&aacute;is’s rightful place in the pantheon of Latin America’s greatest writers.