Unrequited Love and Gay Latino Culture

Drawing on a wide range of material from art, theater, music, and literature, Contreras argues that historical memory is embedded in these forms of art and can perhaps take us "somewhere better than this place." The critical energies in the book come from Chicana/o and queer studies. Contreras views unrequited love as a utopian space of possibility and transformation. The discussion includes The Boys in the Band, Arturo Islas, Paris is Burning, Judy Garland, and Kiss of the Spider Woman.

"Beautifully written and argued ..Contreras argues that far from being simply maudlin, defeatist, or a form of self-loathing, such works presuppose utopian longing that critically mark the political limitation of the reigning social reality. He examines literature, film, performance and visual art, reclaiming context and materials often dismissed as low or 'trashy.'" - Curtis Marez, The School of Cinema/Television, University of Southern California

"Unrequited Love and the Question of Utopia investigates the various literary, visual, stylistic, and gestural cultural codes that make Chicano and gay artistic production significantly symptomatic of contemporary American culture. Daniel Contreras makes here a compelling case for understanding Chicano and gay writers, artists, and filmmakers as major participants in the ongoing "postnationalist" critiques of various "nationalist" tendencies in late twentieth century aesthetic movements. Focusing on the thematics of "race," "camp," and "utopia," Contreras s work makes a case not only for the liberatory nature of artistic creation but also for the necessity of its ambiguously contradictory forms in addressing ethnic styles of liberation. This is a work that scholars of contemporary gay ethnic writings will find enchanting and illuminating." - Ramon Saldivar, Stanford University

"Contreras' detailed, sensitive close readings of his primary texts are elegant, blessedly accessible, engaging and at times even moving." - Ricardo Ortiz, Georgetown University

"Daniel Contreras explores significant issues in Chicano life and queer studies. He embraces cultural versions of camp and romance without shying away from sentimentality. This book is smart, outrageous, and convincing - a wonderful read." - Renato Rosaldo, New York University

Daniel Contreras is Assistant Professor, Colby College.