Rascally Signs in Sacred Places - (H. Eugene and Lillian Youngs Lehman) 3rd Edition by David E Whisnant (Paperback)

About the Book

Rascally Signs in Sacred Places: The Politics of Culture in Nicaragua

Book Synopsis

David Whisnant provides a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic relationship between culture, power, and policy in Nicaragua over the last 450 years. Spanning a broad spectrum of popular and traditional expressive forms -- including literature, music, film, and broadcast media -- the book explores the evolution of Nicaraguan culture, its manipulation for political purposes, and the opposition to cultural policy by a variety of marginalized social and regional groups.

Within the historical narrative of cultural change over time, Whisnant skillfully discusses important case studies of Nicaraguan cultural politics: the consequences of the unauthorized removal of archaeological treasures from the country in the nineteenth century; the perennial attempts by political factions to capitalize on the reputation of two venerated cultural figures, poet Rubén Darío and rebel General Augusto C. Sandino; and the ongoing struggle by Nicaraguan women for liberation from traditional gender relations.

Originally published in 1995.

A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.

From the Back Cover

David Whisnant provides a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic relationship between culture, power, and policy in Nicaragua over the last 450 years. Spanning a broad spectrum of expressive forms-- including literature, music, film, material culture, and broadcast media--the book explores the evolution of Nicaraguan culture, its manipulation of political purposes, the development of and response to cultural policy by a variety of groups and constituencies, and the role of culture in other policy sectors.

Review Quotes

"Outstandingly crafted and exhaustively researched."--"Choice"

"This is a truly remarkable piece of work that reflects extensive research over a very large period. Its focus on cultural history makes it a unique book in Central American studies. It represents the most thorough study of the relationship between culture, politics, and the evolution of society that has yet been done on Nicaragua."--Ralph Lee Woodward, Jr., Tulane University

About the Author

David E. Whisnant holds appointments in English, folklore, American studies, Latin American studies, and communications studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His books include Modernizing the Mountaineer: People, Power, and Planning in Appalachia and All That Is Native and Fine: The Politics of Culture in an American Region.