1. New Historicism and Race and Ethnic Studies

2. “New” vs. “Old” Historicism
History provides the background and context for a story.
History is stable and objective.
Literature reflects or presents history.

3. “New” vs. “Old” Historicism
History provides the background and context for a story.
History is stable and objective.
Literature reflects or presents history.
New Historicism
Both history and literature are complex and uncertain.
Need to consider multiple points of view and interpretations.
History and literature = cycle of mutual influence. (Make and remake each other.)

4. New Historicism Move away from essentialism
History is a construction rather than an “essence” or truth.
E.g. One view= Christopher Columbus discovered America.
Another=Columbus was a brutal invader and conqueror.
Nothing is “outside” history

5. Race and Ethnic Studies
Overlaps with more specific focal points and areas:
South Asian Studies
African Studies
Latin American Studies
Pacific Studies
In the U.S.:
Asian American Studies, Latina/Latino studies (or Chicana/Chicano studies, depending on emphasis), American Indian Studies, African American Studies, Hawaiian Studies, etc.

6. “Zooming In”: Gloria Anzaldúa and Borderlands/La Frontera
Theorist in cultural studies, feminism, and queer theory
Borderlands/La Frontera
Emphasis on mixing of national, racial, sexual, and gendered cultures and identities.
Language and Identity
Seamless movement between many different languages and dialects (multiple versions of English and Spanish, including Spanglish and Nahuatl)