Chicana/o Cyberpunk after el Movimiento (original) (raw)

Abstract

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The paper examines Chicana/o cyberpunk in the context of 1990s Southern California, exploring how Chicano writers used science fiction to respond to racial and economic turmoil. It highlights the intersection of Chicano identity with cyberpunk aesthetics, invoking themes of hybridization and cultural syncretism, and underscores the genre's potential for challenging dominant narratives through an oppositional consciousness.

Key takeaways

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  1. Chicano cyberpunk critiques racial and cultural stereotypes using science fiction to explore identity paradigms.
  2. The 1990s Chicano cyberpunk context emerged from economic and racial turmoil in Southern California.
  3. Chicano cyberpunk writers resisted nationalist logics, favoring cultural syncretism and hybrid identities.
  4. Guillermo Gómez-Peña's ethno-cyborgs symbolize the dehumanization of Chicanos, critiquing white cultural dominance.
  5. The text aims to highlight overlooked contributions of Chicano writers to cyberpunk literature.

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References (28)

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  22. Rivera Safire, William. 2003. "Shock and Awe: A Tactic, Not a Law Firm." New York Times Magazine, March 30.
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FAQs

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What critical aspects characterize Chicana/o cyberpunk in the 1990s?add

Chicana/o cyberpunk in the 1990s, as seen in texts like High Aztech (1992), emphasizes hybrid cultural identities and challenges nationalist logics prevalent in earlier Chicano literature.

How do Chicano cyberpunk texts approach globalization and neoliberalism?add

Chicano cyberpunks critique globalization and neoliberalism by depicting thriving multicultural cities, contrasting traditional dystopian views with vibrant heterotopias as seen in The Rag Doll Plagues (1992).

What role does hybridity play in Chicano cyberpunk narratives?add

Hybridity is central, as Chicano cyberpunk narratives often illustrate the blending of cultures and identities, like Xólotl Zapata in High Aztech grappling with cultural syncretism.

How does Guillermo Gómez-Peña's work reinterpret cyborg imagery?add

Gómez-Peña’s ethno-cyborgs address stereotypes by reversing the gaze onto the spectator, challenging cultural projections about Latinos and addressing the mechanics of stereotyping.

What influence did the Chicano movement have on Chicano cyberpunk?add

The Chicano movement laid the groundwork for cultural critiques in Chicano cyberpunk by promoting identity, but cyberpunk evolves to emphasize transnational and hybrid identities over strict nationalism.