Overview

Draws on fieldwork with theatre groups in Chiapas, Tabasco, and Yucatan to observe the Maya peoples in the process of defining themselves through theatrical performance Reveals how theatre is an agent of cultural self-definition and community-building Shows how theatre negotiates complex relations among indigenous communities in Mayan Mexico, state governments, and non-Mayan artists and researchers In this book, Tamara Underiner draws on fieldwork with theatre groups in Chiapas, Tabasco, and Yucatan to observe the Maya peoples in the process of defining themselves through theatrical performance. She looks at the activities of four theatre groups or networks, focusing on their operating strategies and on close analyses of selected dramatic texts. She shows that while each group works under the rubric of Mayan or indigenous theatre, their works are also in constant dialogue, confrontation, and collaboration with the wider, non-Mayan world. Her observations thus reveal not only how theatre is an agent of cultural self-definition and community-building but also how theatre negotiates complex relations among indigenous communities in Mayan Mexico, state governments, and non-Mayan artists and researchers.

Full Product Details

9780292702509

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Reviews

"""This is an exciting, highly original contribution to both Mayan studies and Mexican theatre studies. Each of the bodies of work examined is fascinating, extremely timely, and almost unstudied by scholars."" Cynthia Steele, Professor of Comparative Literature, University of Washington"

This is an exciting, highly original contribution to both Mayan studies and Mexican theatre studies. Each of the bodies of work examined is fascinating, extremely timely, and almost unstudied by scholars. Cynthia Steele, Professor of Comparative Literature, University of Washington

Author Information

Tamara L. Underiner is Associate Professor of Theatre History and Culture Studies at Arizona State University.

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