Chicano Art Inside/Outside the Master's House: Cultural Politics and the CARA Exhibition
This interdisciplinary cultural study examines the landmark Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation, 1965-1985 (CARA) exhibition that toured major museums across the United States in the early 1990s. As the first major attempt to define and represent Chicano/a art for a national audience, the exhibition sparked both critical acclaim and controversy while raising fundamental questions about multiculturalism in American cultural institutions.
Critical Analysis of the CARA Exhibition
Alicia Gaspar de Alba presents the CARA exhibit as a cultural text in which the Chicano/a community affirmed itself not as a "subculture" within the United States but as an "alter-Native" culture in opposition to the exclusionary and homogenizing practices of mainstream institutions. This analysis demonstrates how the exhibition reflected the cultural and sexual politics of the Chicano Movement and serves as a model of Chicano/a popular culture more broadly.
Interdisciplinary Approach
Drawing insights from cultural studies, feminist theory, anthropology, and semiotics, this book constitutes a comprehensive analysis of Chicano/a art, popular culture, and mainstream cultural politics. The interdisciplinary methodology provides multiple perspectives on how cultural institutions shape and are shaped by the communities they represent.
Key Topics Covered
The book addresses the tension between Chicano/a cultural expression and institutional representation, examining how the CARA exhibition navigated the politics of inclusion and exclusion within major American museums. It explores the period from 1965 to 1985, a crucial era in Chicano Movement history, and analyzes how artistic production during this time reflected broader social and political struggles.
Academic and Cultural Significance
This work appeals to scholars and readers across multiple disciplines including cultural studies, art history, ethnic studies, feminist theory, and American studies. It provides essential context for understanding Chicano/a art within the broader landscape of American cultural politics and institutional practices.
Author: Alicia Gaspar de Alba is Professor at the César E. Chávez Center for Chicana and Chicano Studies at UCLA.
