Staging Frontiers: The Making of Modern Popular Culture in Argentina and Uruguay (Diálogos Series)

Review "In his engaging analysis of this genre ['creole dramas'], its origins and its impact, William Acree has decisively expanded our understanding of a key moment in the cultural history of Argentina and Uruguay."--Matthew B. Karush, Journal of Social History"Scholars will appreciate the wide range of sources consulted, from travel accounts to the popular press to statistical data. . . . In sum, Staging Frontiers is a wonderful contribution to the social history of popular culture in Río de la Plata and beyond."--Brenda Elsey, H-LatAm Product Description Winner of the 2020 Best Book in the Nineteenth Century Award from the LASA Nineteenth Century SectionSwashbuckling tales of valiant gauchos roaming Argentina and Uruguay were nineteenth-century Latin American best sellers. But when these stories jumped from the page to the circus stage and beyond, their cultural, economic, and political influence revolutionized popular culture and daily life.In this expansive and engaging narrative William Acree guides readers through the deep history of popular entertainment before turning to circus culture and rural dramas that celebrated the countryside on stage. More than just riveting social experiences, these dramas were among the region's most dominant attractions on the eve of the twentieth century. Staging Frontiers further explores the profound impacts this phenomenon had on the ways people interacted and on the broader culture that influenced the region. This new, modern popular culture revolved around entertainment and related products, yet it was also central to making sense of social class, ethnic identity, and race as demographic and economic transformations were reshaping everyday experiences in this rapidly urbanizing region. About the Author William Garrett Acree Jr. is an associate professor of Spanish at Washington University in St. Louis. He is the author of Everyday Reading: Print Culture and Collective Identity in the Río de la Plata, 1780-1910.