Intercultural mediations

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"Intercultural Mediations" proposes a study of the multiple interactions between and among the different literary traditions of the United States. It draws upon two main theoretical sources--postcolonial theory and American border studies--to articulate a model of the hybrid and postcolonial nature of writing in the United States. This volume explores the nature of the "ethnic" others' appropriation and subversion of the Euroamerican authoritative discourse--embodied in what the authors call the "book of the West"--as well as cultural difference. The analysis focuses on the production of contested sites of enunciation in a few particular fields and texts from a variety of American literature, including John Milton Oskison's "The Problem of Old Harjo," Toni Morrison's "Beloved," Helena Viramontes's "The Cariboo Caf," Carlos Fuentes's "La frontera de crystal," Ron Arias's "The Road to Tamazunchale," Frederick Douglass's "Narrative," Louise Erdrich's "Tracks," Jos Barreiro's "The Indian Chronicles," and Caryl Phillip's "Crossing the River." Ana M. Manzanas is associate professor of American studies at the Universidad de Salamanca, Spain. Jess Benito is associate professor of American studies and literary theory at the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.