"Para poder componer…": Una biografía sonora sobre Alejandro García Villalón 'Virulo' (1955-2008)

Pablo Alejandro Suárez Marrero, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (México)

La pluralidad discursiva manifiesta en la actual música popular se encuentra enmarcada en una realidad estético-musical cambiante, causada por una postmodernidad social cada vez más abierta a la globalización de las expresiones culturales de los pueblos. Es dentro de esta dinámica social que emerge la figura creativa de Alejandro García Villalón Virulo y sus grabaciones sonoras (1973-2021). En estas, el cantautor empleó disímiles recursos musicales, literarios, escénicos y visuales para ejercer la crítica sobre sus contextos germinales, como vía desacralizadora de culturas hegemónicas y paradigmas sociales construidos a lo largo del devenir histórico de los pueblos de la región. La casi nula existencia de estudios académicos sobre este artista y sus documentos sonoros constituye una oportunidad para construir su biografía sonora como contexto de performance (1955-2008), donde se imbricaron elementos históricos, políticos, sociales y culturales condicionados por marcos temporales y espacios geográficos. Para ello, se concatenaron herramientas teóricas, conceptuales y metodológicas provenientes de los estudios de performance, la historiografía crítica y la musicología popular. La presente investigación conduce a repensar las relaciones entre música y humor en culturas musicales de América Latina y el Caribe, la concepción de la biografía sonora de un cantautor como aproximación a su contexto germinal, así como el abordaje de los documentos de música grabada o programada como fuentes primarias de información para estudios sociales de prácticas sonoro-musicales situadas.

Cistercian Mysticism

Edited by Aage Rydstrøm-Poulsen, University of Greenland et al.

Since mysticism deals with the ultimate ideals and purposes of human existence, it is one of the most significant phenomena in Western cultural history. Mysticism had a significant role in the medieval monastic environment and, along with many other things, had a profound impact on Western intellectual culture. The history of mysticism in the West, is a history of the greatest and most significant aspirations and potentialities of the individual regarding the understanding of oneself and the divine. 'Cistercian Mysticism' is an outstanding example. The anthology’s chapters explore key aspects of Cistercian spirituality, including William of Saint-Thierry’s 'visio Dei' (the vision of God), a transformative encounter with the divine that is central to his mysticism, as well as the concept of 'sensus amoris.' 'Cistercian Mysticism' also explores Bernard of Clairvaux’s writings on the Song of Songs and the relation between contemplation and action, demonstrating how action service and contemplative love can coexist. Tradition is further enhanced by Aelred of Rievaulx’s thoughts on spiritual friendship, which highlight how human relationships based on love and introspection mirror the soul’s path toward divine union. By examining the writings of these influential figures, this volume offers a way to comprehend the close connection between the divine and the human soul, highlighting the importance of their contributions to the mystical and theological landscape of the Middle Ages. A book which will undoubtedly be highly enjoyed by scholars and students of all ages and religious communities.

Cultural History of the Guitar in Latin America: News from Argentina, Guatemala, México, and Perú

Edited by Luis Diaz-Santana Garza, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Mexico

The objective of this book is to disseminate the rich history of the guitar in Latin America, with special emphasis on Mexico, covering a period that goes from the viceregal age to the present day. The collaborators are some of the most outstanding guitarists and researchers of the instrument from Chile, Mexico, Guatemala and the United States. The chapters aim to explore the composers, performers, repertoire and construction of the guitar since the sixteenth century in Latin America and the US, but also to comprehend the social role and economic ecosystem of the instrument. Due to the long chronology proposed, the book not only deals with the modern guitar, but also with the baroque guitar, and there is even a chapter dedicated to the traditional instruments that have historically been heirs to the Spanish guitar. The originality of this work resides in the use of historical and humanistic tools. It is based on a current bibliography, and it is one of the first books published in English on the history of the guitar in Latin America.

Hannes Meyer: Soviet Architect. Life and Work in the USSR, 1930–1936

Tatiana Efrussi

Swiss architect and urban planner, the second director of the Bauhaus Dessau, Hannes Meyer, spent about six years in the USSR—from 1930 to 1936. This book presents the first in-depth study of Hannes Meyer's activities during the years of early Stalinism. There is a global interest in this architect’s legacy today, but his work can hardly be understood without a closer examination of the key chapter in his career. This book is an attempt to challenge the usual Western-centered perspective and explore not only what Meyer could bring to the Soviet Union but also what he sought to learn there and how this interaction influenced his work and thinking. The somewhat provocative title underscores this thesis. A detailed reconstruction of his professional activities during this period was made possible through archival research in several countries (Russia, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) and field trips across Russia. In the end, the narrative offers a glimpse into the Soviet architectural context of the 1930s—networks, hierarchies, behavioral strategies, theories, and interpretations of major polemical concepts such as "proletarian architecture" and "socialist realism." Among the projects for "socialist cities," Meyer was commissioned to create the urban plan for the capital of the Jewish Autonomous Region in the USSR—Birobidzhan. The dedicated book chapter explores his involvement in the search for a distinct Soviet "Jewish style." Hannes Meyer, the most controversial of the architects associated with the Bauhaus, was passionately involved in politics, and available documents indicate his desire to become a "Soviet architect" at all costs. The research allows us to view Meyer not only as a victim but also as an actor in the early Stalinist system based on violence.

Russian Fractals in Indigenous Artifacts

Abdul Karim Bangura, American University Center for Global Peace and Leonid A. Zhigun, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, Russia; Financial University, Moscow, Russia

This book is the first comprehensive work on Russian Fractals in indigenous artifacts. While existing works focus on universal phenomena, such as liquid crystal or finance, none explore the intersection between Fractals and Russia. 'Russian Fractals in Indigenous Artifacts' therefore investigates how indigenous Russian cultures have a wonderful Fractal heritage that was originally tied to socially just and ecologically sustainable social practices, including those of indigenous northern groups such as the Yakut. Fractal designs originally allowed unalienated value, both human and nonhuman, to be visible, thereby enabling just and sustainable living. This book also examines how the tsarist elite encouraged the creation of unique creative masterpieces, developing and strengthening traditional crafts and art of indigenous people—hence, Fabergé, or imperial architecture. Today, the challenge for contemporary Russia is to reestablish the relationship between the social and ecological sustainability of indigenous cultures and practices, for which we can now provide modeling and analysis. Lay attempts at this have only limited success, as they have based the attempts on a purely religious basis, which recognizes the ecological aspects but often succumbs to authoritarian nationalism. However, the freely accession of indigenous peoples to Russia for the sake of national liberation has had a positive effect on enriching them with spirituality and creativity by Fractal artifacts through friendly exchanges with one another. In 'Russian Fractals in Indigenous Artifacts,' Bangura and Zhigun express why there is a need for a forward-thinking Fractal renaissance in Russia, bringing together contemporary computational and scientific analyses with these ecologically and socially sustainable traditions.

Silk Road Footprints: Transnational Transmission of Sacred Thoughts and Historical Legacy

Edited by David W. Kim, Harvard University / Australian National University / Kookmin University, Seoul, Corea

The Silk Road generally evokes images of places, cultures and peoples linked by the exchange of exotic goods and fabled treasures. The notion of the subject, however, often disregards the historical fact that the Silk Road routes functioned as a unique channel for spreading religious ideas, culture and literature. The personal or community beliefs of the Silk Road were changed radically as a result of the impact of external influences. 'Silk Road Footprints: Transnational Transmission of Sacred Thoughts and Historical Legacy' demonstrates that sacred communities interacted, coexisted, competed and influenced each other over long periods. These include those local traditions that evolved in ancient China, the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, Korea and Japan and the subsequent larger traditions that arose in the region—Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam—as well as the shamanistic and animistic traditions of various nomadic peoples. The history of religions along the Silk Road is a remarkable illustration of how beliefs and civilisations often reflect a broad pattern of synthesis rather than clash. This book indicates that Asia (South, Southeast, East Asia and China), one of the most pluralistic religious regions in the world, has become a center of attention as a bridge between cultures. Ultimately, the creative study of the Silk Road and religious transnationalism evidences the implication that the local groups have been developed under the new environment of sacred principles and traditions as well as political influence.

Vagabondage: A Timeless Reaction to the Malignancy of Western Civilization

Ian Cutler

This book concerns why the writers featured sought to exile themselves from mainstream society, not least by embracing the ‘natural’ world and an ascetic lifestyle. With the help of generous references from the 30-plus vagabond writers featured (plus many more contributions from secondary texts), Cutler has identified what he regards as the key features of the temperament and philosophy of those who rejected mannered, conventional society for a vagabond life. Each chapter addresses a different aspect of vagabondage under such themes as: wanderlust; the compulsion not to live a settled existence; asceticism; affinity with nature; the desire to retain the innocence (and mischief) of childhood; aloofness yet compassion for the rest of human-kind; and the rejection of formal education for knowledge experienced via their own senses. Refusing to be compromised by the grand narratives of religion, politics, law, nationalism, and convention, they regarded themselves as ‘citizens of the universe’ rather than slaves of what they regarded as geographical and political states artificially created by humans. Cutler attempts to rescue from obscurity, the philosophy first espoused by the ancient Cynics and now practiced—outside of any organized movement—by this disparate group of thinkers and writers, by presenting arguments and conclusions that are original to this work.

Archaeology as a Weapon: Long-lasting legacies of colonialism and nationalism in Israel, Palestine, Cyprus and Greece

Marie-Louise Winbladh

In Israel, Palestine, Cyprus and Greece, the reconstruction of the past through archaeology has been used to strengthen national identity. Narratives about the past and origin myths have been constructed for political purposes. Cyprus and Palestine have both suffered from British colonialism since the early twentieth century, which has had a profound influence on their cultural heritage. Through nationalism, archaeology has been exploited by far-right movements and political parties to claim ownership of heritage and has become an efficient political tool. In Israel, archaeology and religion have been exploited to construct the Israeli state and still play a crucial role. The country claims to be the conqueror of Palestine under the protection of God, who they believe gave them possession of the land. Western religious groups are convinced that it is the religious duty of Christians to support the modern nation-state of Israel. Biblical archaeology has become an ultra-religious American speciality, marked by fraud and pseudoresearch. Notorious smuggling scandals were staged by American Christian multibillionaires buying artefacts looted from the National Museum of Iraq and other countries. Looting, plundering and blacklisting are among the most serious problems in Cyprus, causing irreparable damage to artefacts, monuments and society. Palestine’s rich archaeological, historical, and religious heritage has been undermined by occupation and land confiscation. Hundreds of sites have been looted during the Israeli occupation, and an illegal trade of ancient artefacts has occurred on a large scale. Populism is frequently associated with extreme nationalism and racism. Over the past few years, white nationalists and supremacists have seized the history of Greece and Rome. White nationalists and neo-Nazis in the US have used the slogan “Classics Made Great Again” showing their obsession with ancient sculptures and their alleged whiteness. When visiting Jerusalem, the Trump administration promoted an evangelical program where the politics of moral superiority is associated with white Christian supremacy.

Fashion’s Missing Masses: The representation of marginalized populations in collections and exhibitions of dress

Edited by Kenna Libes, Bard Graduate Center

'Fashion’s Missing Masses' fills a gap in literature on museums and fashion collections and focuses on the display of clothing and fashion that has historically been left out of the canon. The fifteen essays in this volume span topics on Indigenous and traditional dress; disabled and fat bodies; and queer and ethnic identities. Their authors study the ways that dress and textiles have been collected, displayed, and often ignored across a century and a half of museum exhibitions. Representation and inclusion in fashion museums is a new and rapidly evolving area of research in the reexamination of dress history. These chapters provide unique information and perspectives on curation, collections management, conservation, and research, which will be valuable to a wide group of audiences working, teaching, and learning in and about museums. This volume touches on practical concerns of exhibition, including mannequin availability and difficulties of mounting dress, as well as broader questions of scholarship and activism that will be key for educators and researchers who wish to stay abreast of developments in this field. Diversity in fashion is a hot topic, and understanding the line between tokenization and representation in spaces of institutional authority is crucial to learning how we can better serve our diverse populations in the teaching of history.

Lawyers of the Old Left: Morris Hillquit, Seymour Stedman & Charles Recht

Eric B. Easton, University of Baltimore School of Law

'Lawyers of the Old Left' contains professional profiles of the three most important – if not the most famous – lawyers of the American Left in the first quarter of the twentieth Century. These men were involved in some of the most significant cases of the tumultuous era that surrounded World War I, and they all commanded the respect of both their contemporary colleagues and adversaries. Morris Hillquit was practically synonymous with the Socialist movement that flourished in New York City. Not only was he a prolific chronicler of the movement, but he also ran for political office several times under the Socialist banner. Hillquit took a leadership role in the defense of antiwar activists during wartime and the repression that followed. In time, he would become one of the nation’s pre-eminent labor lawyers. Seymour Stedman was a leader, with Eugene Debs and Victor Berger, of the home-grown Socialist movement that prevailed in Chicago, Milwaukee, and other midwestern cities. He rose to prominence at the national level, ultimately becoming the Party’s vice-presidential candidate in Debs’ campaign for the presidency in 1920. Charles Recht was unquestionably the most important American lawyer representing the Soviet Union, both before and after that country was recognized by the United States. He also participated in many important civil liberties cases, including the IWW and other anarchist-related cases. Recht also pursued a second career as a novelist, poet, and theatrical translator. Anyone interested in radical politics, the labor movement, and civil liberties law should be interested in reading this book. While these men played an outsized role in their time, they are largely forgotten today and appear only peripherally in the period literature. This book provides a perspective on the era that is otherwise largely unavailable.

Italian Comics in the New Millennium. Vol. 1. Continuity and Innovation

Edited by Alessio Aletta, University of Toronto

The first issue of a two-volume collection, this book explores the transformation of Italian comics in the new millennium, offering a comprehensive analysis of the evolving landscape of “fumetti” through both historical and contemporary lenses. The book examines iconic serials from Disney Italia and Sergio Bonelli Editore, alongside innovative auteur-driven works, providing readers with an in-depth look at how Italy’s most influential comics publishers have adapted to shifting cultural and industrial contexts. Contributions focus on the challenges of maintaining the essence of beloved series while integrating modern sensibilities, exploring shifts in audience, narrative strategies, and thematic explorations. The volumes also delve into the works of influential Italian comic artists, from the groundbreaking legacy of Andrea Pazienza to the contemporary innovations of Gipi and Zerocalcare, offering fresh insights into narrative styles, intermedial experimentation, and socio-political commentary. With contributions from leading scholars in the field, this collection highlights the vibrant, dynamic nature of Italian comics and their growing international recognition. This work provides a vital resource for anyone interested in the intersection of popular culture, artistic innovation, and the evolving nature of graphic storytelling. Drawing on a rich variety of methodological approaches, the book serves as both a reference tool and a thought-provoking exploration of the role of comics in contemporary society in the Italian context.

Italian Comics in the New Millennium. Vol. 2. New Scenarios, New Forms, New Themes

Edited by Alessio Aletta, University of Toronto

Volume II of 'Italian Comics in the New Millennium' offers an in-depth exploration of the dynamic transformations in the Italian comics industry, focusing on the intersections of innovation, tradition, and contemporary socio-political issues. This collection highlights the rapidly evolving production and consumption landscape, including the rise of self-publishing, digital comics, and the impact of online platforms. The book examines the role of digital comics in reshaping narrative and aesthetic possibilities, while also addressing the changing working conditions of comics creators in the digital age. Key themes explored in this volume include the integration of comics into journalism; the emergence of reality-based narratives; and the growing representation of gender, sexuality, and immigration in contemporary graphic novels. Special attention is given to new waves of Italian comics that explore regional identities, historical memory, and personal lineage, offering a diverse range of case studies from emerging authors and established figures. This collection is a vital resource for researchers, students, and professionals in comics studies, media, and cultural studies. It provides an extensive overview of the most recent developments in Italian comics, offering a blend of critical analysis and fresh perspectives on the medium’s cultural significance. With its focus on evolving narrative forms and innovative production models, this volume serves as both a reference tool and a thought-provoking exploration of the present – and future – of Italian comics.

Psychedelic Immortality: Nietzschean Perspectives on Reincarnation, Femtheogens, and Philosophy

Joseph I. Breidenstein Jr.

Recent research has revealed a psychedelic inspiration for Nietzsche’s philosophy and, far from being a novelty in the history of philosophy, there is significant evidence that several of the first western philosophers ingested psychedelics as well. In his first book, Joseph I. Breidenstein Jr, PhD, maintained that western philosophy began as what we today would call a feminist religious reformation in the sense that many prominent presocratic philosophers were reviving a paleo/neolithic goddess-centered religiosity of rebirth within the largely patriarchal and death-glorifying culture of archaic Greece. And, in this book, Dr. Breidenstein Jr proposes that the presocratics’ psychedelic-reincarnationist-feminine model of education and/or worldview is better suited for democracy in the twenty-first century than the economic model of education that takes the west’s mainstream materialistic-secular worldview for granted. For several decades now, researchers have acknowledged both that the empirical evidence for reincarnation is overwhelming and that psychedelics can evoke past-life recollections, but ‘explanations’ for either reincarnation or how psychedelics do this have yet to be offered. By combining Nietzsche’s philosophy with the work of other thinkers, ‘Psychedelic Immortality’ both provides explanations for each of these phenomena and explores how situating education and democracy within the context of reincarnation can incite a renaissance of American culture and politics. For Nietzscheans and philosophers in particular, this book illustrates the contemporary relevance of two neglected aspects of Nietzsche scholarship—i.e. psychedelics and reincarnation—and, for researchers in such fields as feminist philosophy of religion, ecotheology, philosophy of education, social-political philosophy, and eastern philosophy, it offers a more plausible and healthier worldview in which to explore possibilities in their respective fields that are diminished by the mainstream paradigm. For spiritual seekers of all paths, it offers a conception of philosophy as a practice of awakening goddess consciousness that unfolds over the course of successive lifetimes.

Pedagogical Reckoning: Decolonizing and Degendering the Art Historical Canon in the Classroom and Museum

Edited by Gillian Greenhill Hannum, Manhattanville University and Sooran Choi, University of Vermont

'Pedagogical Reckoning: Decolonizing and Degendering the Art Historical Canon in the Classroom and Museum' brings together leading voices in art history, museum studies, and pedagogy to confront the Eurocentric and patriarchal foundations of traditional art historical education. This timely anthology provides a range of actionable strategies for reshaping curricula, exhibitions, and research through the lenses of decoloniality, gender justice, and global inclusion. Edited by Sooran Choi and Gillian Greenhill Hannum, the volume includes contributions from scholars, artists, and educators across institutional contexts—from large research universities to community colleges and art schools. Its chapters span three key areas: inclusive classroom pedagogy, critical museum and curatorial practice, and decolonial research methodologies. Essays explore intersectional frameworks informed by postcolonial theory, feminist critique, queer studies, and ethnic studies, while also providing practical tools such as sample assignments, case studies, and curatorial models. Uniquely, this anthology integrates scholarly analysis with pedagogical reflection, offering readers both conceptual frameworks and concrete applications. It builds on recent literature such as 'Teaching South and Southeast Asian Art' and 'Expanding the Parameters of Feminist Artivism', while extending the conversation through its focus on classroom agency, community-responsive teaching, and institutional reckoning. Ideal for art history instructors; museum professionals; and students in anthropology, cultural studies, and education, 'Pedagogical Reckoning' serves as both a critical resource and a methodological guide. It is suitable for classroom adoption, professional development, and curriculum planning, and will appeal to anyone committed to transforming the way we teach, curate, and write about art.

Estudios de (des)cortesía verbal en la historia del español: Actos de habla, modulación del discurso y formas de tratamiento

Edited by Andrzej Zieliński, Universidad de Szczecin, Polonia and Silvia Iglesias Recuero, Universidad Complutense de Madrid / Instituto Universitario Seminario Menéndez Pidal

Esta monografía colectiva profundiza en diferentes estrategias lingüísticas de (des)cortesía verbal documentadas en los períodos evolutivos tradicionalmente considerados en historia de la lengua española. Los diez capítulos que constituyen el libro, cuyos autores son especialistas en la materia, ofrecen novedosas aportaciones sobre el funcionamiento de diferentes actos de habla, formas de tratamientos o modulaciones del discurso, abordados desde diferentes enfoques y aplicados en diferentes modalidades del español. De esta manera, hace una notable aportación a la reconstrucción de la historia de la (des)cortesía en español -y en italiano, puesto que hay un capítulo dedicado al análisis histórico contrastivo- y de las construcciones lingüísticas empleadas en la interacción a lo largo de los siglos, pues el arco temporal abarcado cubre desde los siglos XII al XXI. En las perspectivas de análisis diacrónico adoptadas resultan cruciales la recontextualización sociocultural de la (des)cortesía de cada época y la consideración de los géneros discursivos empleados como corpus, de modo que cobran especial relevancia para el estudio de la pragmática la organización secuencial de las interacciones orales y escritas, la tradicionalidad discursiva de las construcciones analizadas y las funciones interpersonales y de gestión de la interacción a las que sirven. Esta perspectiva sociocultural y discursiva, propia de los estudios actuales en pragmática y (des)cortesía permite un análisis esclarecedor de los fenómenos lingüísticos y discursivos abordados.

Philosophy between the Islamicate and Latin American Traditions

Civilizational Perspectives on Alienation/Ghayriyya (Otherness) in the Knowing/Existing

Edited by Anthony F. Shaker and Amílcar Aldama Cruz, Havana University, Cuba; Al-Mustafa International University, Iran; “Dr. Osvaldo A. Machado Mouret” Center for Arab and Persian Islamic Studies, Argentina

Latin America is a diverse mosaic of cultures that trace their origins back to Indigenous, African, Spanish, Portuguese and Islamic sources. Its philosophies, eloquently expressed by a long line of thinkers, are found not just in departments of philosophy, but also in its rich literature and art, which are given treatment in this volume. The Islamicate world is a unique, fourteen-century-old cultural mosaic that covers much of the known world. Despite its long civilizational experience, it too faces the challenge of emancipation from foreign domination and the chaotic cacophony of monologues afflicting our time. The papers collected here cover various aspects of the philosophies of these two constantly interacting traditions and how they impinge on an old problematic: “ghayriyya” (otherness) and “alienation”. Their themes include key figures like Ibn ʿArabī, Suhrawardī, Aḥmad b. Muṣṭafa al-ʿAlawī, Rudolfo Kusch, José Martí, Spain’s Moriscos, and contemporary Argentine philosophers; and expanding areas of research like the philosophy of the Nahua (popularly known as the “Aztec”) and the language reforms in Türkiye, both of which provide excellent examples of cultural self-alienation.

Manet’s Ironic Duplicity: Hamlet, Baudelaire, and Masculinity

James H. Rubin, Stony Brook, State University of New York

The painter Edouard Manet (1832-1883) was a central figure for momentous and lasting changes in the realm of art that still resound today. His art speaks directly to the philosophical issues and political conflicts of his own time and is therefore deeply embedded in the development of modernity. 'Manet’s Ironic Duplicity' focuses on that situation and the historically conscious artist’s sometimes ambivalent struggle for authenticity. Rather than another full chronological monograph, the book is an interdisciplinary study organized around key concepts. It reframes the major, and sometimes disparate issues in Manet scholarship by focusing on a never-before-considered overriding theme—duplicity—which itself is multiple in its manifestations and variants, hence 'duplicities'. Reversing the usual narrative, this study deconstructs and enlightens the myth of the heroic artist struggling for individual and original vision by revealing how so much of Manet’s creativity and irony was prompted by frustrations due to repressive politics, censorship, and challenges to his sense of self. A key aspect of the latter was his masculinity. Although Manet’s association with the ideas of the poet and critic Charles Baudelaire is well known, never has Baudelaire’s essay 'On the Essence of Laughter and the Comic in the Visual Arts' been brought to bear on the concept of irony in Manet’s work. Given Baudelaire’s rapprochement between actors and artists, as well as Manet’s familiarity with the theatrical milieu, the book focuses on Manet’s two little-studied representations of 'Hamlet' as both the starting and end point of its analysis. It then concludes with a re-reading of the painter’s illustrated letters to women as a dissimulation of his final, fatal illness in order to maintain his masculine honor.

Surrealism and Ecology

Edited by Iveta Slavkova, American University Paris, France et al.

'Surrealism and Ecology' is the first volume to consider the intersections of these two fields. It addresses the contribution of the avant-gardes in thinking about the relationship of humans with their environment in the context of massive environmental upheaval in the twentieth century. This volume explores the significant role of Surrealist artists and writers within the history of critical thinking about nature and environment over the last hundred years. It approaches ecology both as a mode of thinking about the many interconnections of life and as a way of experiencing and knowing the world. The relationship of humans with their environment is of paramount significance within contemporary discourse, and the contribution of the historical avant-gardes to this topic remains largely underexplored. In addressing this gap, the book presents a diverse selection of analyses of the ways in which the Surrealists have thought about and represented nature and the human place within it. It emphasises how Surrealism’s interventions in connecting seemingly distinct domains of thought and phenomena can be understood as relevant to more recent developments in the practice of ecological thought. Surrealist practices and the academic field of Surrealism studies are broad in scope and include not only visual art, but also poetry and literature, film, philosophy, exhibition design, and experimental practice. This volume includes contributions from established and developing scholars working across disciplines and locations, who address such varied practices and engage with analyses from multiple perspectives. The international and trans-Atlantic history of Surrealism is well-represented in this book, with over half the texts exploring the work of European Surrealists in exile during the Second World War or the art and environmental and political activism of Surrealists in the Caribbean and throughout the Americas.

Dante the Heretic: An Exploration of Cathar Beliefs in the Divine Comedy

Edited by Caterina Soresina Stoppani

The purpose of this book is to demonstrate that Cathar doctrine is the main source of Dante's poem and to encourage readers to approach this work with fresh eyes, beyond the interpretative frameworks that are often worn. With detailed references to Dante's text, persuasive arguments, lucid and concrete exposition, and a direct and easy-to-follow style, Maria Soresina progressively presents the links between the ‘Divine Comedy’ and Catharism, which she has been investigating since the end of the last century. The text analyzes Cathar characters with respect to the doctrine. The Cathars were Christians, but their beliefs were very different from those of the Catholic Church. The author analyzes their philosophy, followed by verses of Dante that demonstrate agreement with it and distance from the Catholic Church. In addition to the great doctrinal questions, there are many Cathar beliefs and customs, all of which, such as their being vegetarians, find precise confirmation in the verses of the ‘Divine Comedy’. The Cathars had only one sacrament, the ‘consolamentum’. A long chapter is dedicated to demonstrating that Dante's journey through Purgatory corresponds to the various phases of this sacrament, within which the figure of Beatrice has a particular meaning, a woman whom Dante probably never met and never loved. This text offers non-Italian-speaking readers the chance to engage with these interpretive theories, destabilizing the canonical criticism and forcing a re-examination of sources and historical context.

“La música conspira a cielo abierto:” Rock y censura en América Latina

Edited by Luis Diaz-Santana Garza, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Mexico

Este libro nos presenta un panorama muy amplio de la percepción del rock en América Latina desde la cultura dominante, y la forma en que esa percepción adulta, blanca, heteronormativa y prejuiciada desarrolló estrategias de persecución y censura contra el nuevo género. El paso del rock and roll de los años cincuenta al rock de los sesenta coincide con el tránsito de la adolescencia a la juventud de sus seguidores, por lo que ya no se trataba de diversiones adolescentes, sino de demandas de poder de un nuevo sector social. De esa manera, la censura, aunque errática, trató de contrarrestar la amenaza que el rock representaba para el statu quo dominante, en dictadura o democracia, con gobiernos de derecha o de izquierda. La apariencia física de los rockeros se transformó en asunto de Estado, como nos ilustran los autores del libro, donde la represión pasó del control de la música al control de los cuerpos. Frente a la escasa bibliografía existente sobre el rock y la censura en América Latina, este libro constituye un estímulo para ampliar el concepto de música y censura, como para profundizar en la historia del rock en la región.