Subject to Change: The Lessons of Latin American Women's Testimonio for Truth, Fiction, and Theory

by Joanna R. Bartow

Overview

By analyzing testimonial writing, works of fiction, and critical theory, Joanna R. Bartow examines the self-representation of testimonial subjects. She questions limits on reading testimonio that until recently have delegitimated the testimonial subject's autonomy. In addition, Bartow shows the importance of a feminist perspective on testimonio, a perspective met with some resistance. In specific ways, feminist theory sheds light on the construction of the testimonial subject, and testimonial writing highlights questions of agency across differences in feminist theory. Subject to Change does not approach testimonial writing as raw material for theory, but rather reads Latin American testimonio—and the testimonial speaking subject—as an equally sophisticated interlocutor in debates on difference.

Bartow explores theories of violence, sacrifice, displacement, nomadism, and female identity through works by Rigoberta Menchu, Carolina Maria de Jesus, Elena Poniatowska, Clarice Lispector, and Diamela Eltit.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807892848
Publisher:	UNC Department of Romance Studies
Publication date:	01/01/2005
Series:	North Carolina Studies in the Romance Languages and Literatures , #280
Edition description:	1
Pages:	252
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.58(d)

About the Author

Joanna R. Bartow is associate professor of Spanish at St. Mary's College of Maryland.