Description
Book SynopsisA collection of essays on the cultural dimensions of Peronism—the connections between Argentine popular consciousness and the state—particularly during Peróns first regime (1946–55).
Trade Review“All those interested in the protean historical phenomenon of Peronism are indebted to Matthew B. Karush and Oscar Chamosa for this stimulating collection of essays.
The New Cultural History of Peronism offers us, often for the first time in English, access to new perspectives drawn from the recent work of Argentine and North American scholars. These essays are interdisciplinary in nature and represent the creative application of the insights of the new cultural history to the history of Peronism. Framed by a lucid introduction by the editors and a fine overview essay on Peronism and its scholarship by Mariano Ben Plotkin, the essays in this volume constitute both an invaluable teaching tool and a challenge to researchers to pursue further the paths so provocatively teased out by this new cohort of
Peronólogos.”—
Daniel James, author of
Doña María’s Story: Life History, Memory, and Political Identity“This is a wonderful and rich collection that brings together essays from many of the most innovative scholars working on Peronism. It opens up new vistas not only for Argentine history, but for Latin American history overall and cultural history more generally. Its uniqueness and range make it especially valuable for classroom use, and, crucially, a point of entry for those outside Argentine history looking to gain a more nuanced understanding of this most resilient and chameleon-like political and cultural movement.”—
Mark Alan Healey, University of California, Berkeley
“This is cultural history at its best. A group of innovative scholars sheds new light on what is arguably one of the most important sociopolitical and cultural phenomena in modern Latin America.”—
Javier Auyero, author of
Contentious Lives: Two Argentine Women, Two Protests, and the Quest for Recognition“[A] fresh new study on a well-trodden topic. Revisiting the historiography of Peronism, the volume’s editors suggest that much of the theoretical confusion about Peronism comes from analytical studies which take a political or social focus as its main orientation, neglecting to consider the cultural side of Peronism.... While historians and social theorists looked at culture in the years of Peronism’s advance in power as consequential to class and political developments, this volume argues that culture was the base from which Peronism developed its appeal and through an examination of cultural aspects of the Peronist discourse and of the narrative of the new Argentinian state one can understand the development and shortcomings of Peronism.” -- Isabel DiVanna * Canadian Journal of History *
“Each piece stands as an excellent addition to the scholarship of this era; together, they provide any reader with a revealing insight into the actions
the Peronists took to make sure that they would have a lasting legacy in every facet of Argentine life.” -- Gregory Hammond * Hispanic American Historical Review *
“One of the particular strengths of this work is the complexity of this new cultural history of Argentina…Karush and Chimosa effectively elucidate the breadth and depth of new scholarship in the cultural history of the Perón years. Their volume ends with an essay in which Mariano Ben Plotkin outlines topics worthy of further exploration, making this work invaluable for graduate students interested in Peronist studies.” -- Matthew A. Redinger * Ethnohistory *
“[A] useful resource for those interested in Latin American history, offering plenty of themes for undergraduates to explore. . . .
The New Cultural History of Peronism provides a rich cross-section of case studies to parallel and contrast. While it is an invaluable resource for more specialist researchers of Latin American history and politics, I believe its focus on the cultural aspects of governance is an approach that would be welcomed by cultural studies scholars studying political formations in other national contexts.” -- Andrew King * Cultural Studies Review *
“This book edited by Matthew Karush and Oscar Chamosa adds a fresh perspective to the already voluminous scholarship on Peronism. . . . [T]he essays’ range of topics, theoretical sophistication, and clear writing make this book an excellent choice for classroom use. To conclude, this book is a fruitful addition to the study of Peronism that will additionally interest scholars and students beyond its specific case study.” -- Jorge Nállim * Left History *
“This book edited by Matthew Karush and Oscar Chamosa adds a fresh perspective to the already voluminous scholarship on Peronism. . . . [T]he essays’ range of topics, theoretical sophistication, and clear writing make this book an excellent choice for classroom use. To conclude, this book is a fruitful addition to the study of Peronism that will additionally interest scholars and students beyond its specific case study.” -- Jorge Nállim * Left History *
“[A] useful resource for those interested in Latin American history, offering plenty of themes for undergraduates to explore. . . .
The New Cultural History of Peronism provides a rich cross-section of case studies to parallel and contrast. While it is an invaluable resource for more specialist researchers of Latin American history and politics, I believe its focus on the cultural aspects of governance is an approach that would be welcomed by cultural studies scholars studying political formations in other national contexts.” -- Andrew King * Cultural Studies Review *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments vii
Introduction / Matthew B. Karush and Oscar Chamosa 1
Populism, Melodrama, and the Market: The Mass Cultural Origins of Peronism / Matthew B. Karush 21
Peronists and
Cabecitas: Stereotypes and Anxieties at the Peak of Social Change / Natalie Milanesio 53
The
Malón de la Paz of 1946: Indigenous
Descamisados at the Dawn of Peronism / Diana Lenton 85
Criollo and Peronist: The Argentine Folklore Movement during the First Peronism, 1943–1955 / Oscar Chamosa 113
Unforgettable Kitsch: Images around Eva Peron / Anahi Ballent 143
Working-Class Beauty Queens Under Peronism / Mirta Zaida Lobato, María Damilakou, and Lizel Tornay 171
Peronism in "Good Taste": Culture and Consumption in the Magazine
Argentina / Eduardo Elena 209
Political Emotions and the Origins of the Peronist Resistance / César Seveso 239
Final Reflections / Mariano Ben Plotkin 271
Bibliography 289
About the Contributors 303
Index 305
