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Selenidad: Selena, Latinos, and the Performance of Memory

Reginald Cox

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Published in Selenidad: Selena Latinos And The Performance Of Memory

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Selena Quintanilla was a Mexican-American singer who became a global superstar in the 1990s. Her music, which fused traditional Mexican genres with contemporary pop and R&B, crossed over to mainstream audiences, and she became one of the most influential Latin artists of all time. Selena's tragic death in 1995 at the age of 23 shocked and devastated her fans, and her legacy continues to inspire and resonate to this day.

Selenidad: Selena, Latinos, and the Performance of Memory

by Deborah Paredez

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6363 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	288 pages

Selena's story has been told and retold in countless books, articles, and documentaries. But in Selenidad: Selena, Latinos, and the Performance of Memory, author Deborah Paredez offers a groundbreaking new perspective on the singer's life and legacy. Through the lens of performance studies, Paredez examines how Selena's music, image, and untimely death have shaped the ways in which Latinos remember and represent their own history and culture.

Paredez argues that Selena's performances were not simply about entertainment, but were also powerful acts of cultural and political resistance. Selena's music celebrated Latino culture and defied the stereotypes that often marginalized Latinos in the media. Her image, which was both glamorous and accessible, challenged traditional notions of beauty and femininity. And her untimely death, which was the result of a senseless act of violence, became a symbol of the struggles and sacrifices that many Latinos face in the United States.

In Selenidad, Paredez draws on a wide range of sources, including interviews with Selena's family, friends, and fans, as well as archival research and analysis of Selena's music and performances. She also explores the ways in which Selena's legacy has been appropriated by the media and the entertainment industry, and how her image and story have been used to sell everything from perfume to beer.

The result is a complex and nuanced portrait of a woman who was both a beloved icon and a symbol of Latino empowerment. Selenidad is an essential read for anyone interested in Selena Quintanilla, Latino culture, or the power of performance.

Reviews

"Selenidad is a groundbreaking work that offers a new and insightful perspective on Selena Quintanilla's life and legacy. Deborah Paredez's analysis of Selena's performances, image, and untimely death is both rigorous and deeply moving. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in Selena, Latino culture, or the power of performance." - María Herrera-Sobek, author of The Mexican Corrido: A Feminist Analysis

"Selenidad is a beautifully written and deeply researched book that explores the complex and multifaceted legacy of Selena Quintanilla. Deborah Paredez's analysis is both insightful and accessible, making this book a valuable contribution to the fields of performance studies, Latino studies, and gender studies." - Alicia Gaspar de Alba, author of BFree Downloadlands: The New Mestiza

About the Author

Deborah Paredez is a professor of performance studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the author of several books, including Listening to Cuba: The Musical Crossroads of the Americas and Oye Como Va!: Hybridity and Identity in Latino Popular Music. Paredez is a leading scholar in the field of performance studies, and her work has been widely published and translated.

Selenidad: Selena, Latinos, and the Performance of Memory

by Deborah Paredez

4.6 out of 5