Honoring relatives by tending graves, building altars, and cooking festive meals has been an major tradition among Latin Americans for centuries. The tribute, "El D燰 de los Muertos," has enjoyed renewed popularity since the 1970s when Latino activists and artists in the United States began expanding "Day of the Dead" north of the border with celebrations of performance art, Aztec danza, art exhibits, and other public expressions.
Focusing on the power of ritual to serve as a communication medium, in this fully revised and updated edition, Regina M. Marchi combines a mix of ethnography, historical research, oral history, and critical cultural analysis to explore the manifold and unexpected transformations that occur when the tradition is embraced by the mainstream. A testament to the complex nature of ethnic identity,
Day of the Dead in the USA provides insight into the power of ritual to create community, transmit oppositional messages, and advance educational, political, and economic goals.
Today Chicano-style Day of the Dead events take place in all fifty states. This new edition provides more in-depth information about:
- The increase in events across the US, incorporating media coverage and financial aspects,
- Coverage of recent political movements involved in contemporary Day of the Dead celebrations, including #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo
- The greater media coverage and online presence of the celebration including blogs, websites, and streaming videos on how to do Day of the Dead face painting, costume-making, altar making, calavera crafts, and baking Day of the Dead bread (pan de muerto)
- The incorporation of D燰 de los Muertos aesthetics and iconography in video games and movies
- The proliferation of commercialized merchandise, including items such as home goods, clothing, face paints and costumes at mainstream big box and web retailers, as well as the widespread proliferation of calavera-themed decorations and costumes for Halloween
The new edition also includes personal testimonials about how these celebrations play an important role in personal and family life and includes 24 new full color illustrations.
