Folklore and popular culture can be applied to the study and interpretation of literature, specifically, in the case of this project, to the works of contemporary Latin American women authors. The women in this study are representative of authors who incorporate folkloric elements into their works and, as a result, create works that contribute to contemporary popular culture. In their hands, folkloric elements such as traditions, proverbs, rules of behavior, folk tales, fairy tales, and others, find their way into popular and best-selling works of literature. The folklore they incorporate is subverted, shown from a feminine perspective, challenging the stereotypes and roles that have been assigned to them by a patriarchal system. The authors used in this study include Rosario Castellanos, Brianda Domecq, Laura Esquivel, Rosario Ferre, Elena Garro, Angelica Gorodischer, Luisa Valenzuela, and Ana Lydia Vega Many folklorists believe there is an inevitable presence of folklore in literature. It is, therefore, surprising that there have not been more studies which combine literature, folklore and popular culture. This study attempts to fill that void, using folklore as the basis for interpreting short stories, essays and novels by Latin American women Because some genres of folklore have traditionally been associated with women, both as narrators and protagonists, it is necessary to study a broad representation of the genres, rather than concentrate solely on one and in so doing reinforce stereotypes that need to be re-examined. My study demonstrates how women are using a variety of folklore to challenge and redefine their place in today's society. Rather than sharing a common theme, the works I have selected are united by the author's approach to her work. Each author returns to traditional folkloric elements as the basis for her story or novel, elements that have defined men and women's roles and behavior for centuries, and recycles them, showing a new perspective and an alternate way to think and/or act, and create a work a work that can be considered a part of popular culture / acase@tulane.edu
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TULANE/oai:http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/:tulane_25921 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Contributors | Bailey, Kay Elizabeth (Author), Shea, Maureen (Thesis advisor) |
| Publisher | Tulane University |
| Source Sets | Tulane University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Access requires a license to the Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) database., Copyright is in accordance with U.S. Copyright law |
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