The Sense of Brown by Jose Esteban Muñoz (review)

• DOI: 10.1353/ams.2023.a910901
• Publication Date: 2023-11-02T09:47:27Z
• Authors: Roberto C. Orozco
• Keywords: Utopia

Reviewed by: The Sense of Brown by Jose Esteban Muñoz Roberto C. Orozco PhD THE SENSE OF BROWN. By Muñoz. Durham, Duke University Press, 2020. In Brown, articulates brownness as "brown people…who are rendered brown their personal and familial participations in South-to-North migrations patterns" (p. 3) everyday gestures people who performativity that challenges whiteness a majoritarian cultural logic. Throughout the book, reader is able to feel intimacy Muñoz's thinking renderings presented challenge one think beyond identitarian subject positions engage affect tied way being brown. Furthermore, each chapters intimately ties concept queerness both affective excessiveness racial, ethnic, gender, sexual performativities Latinidad. As an example, invites us understand limitations terms such Latino/a, similar Hispanic, have historically been used present communal group identity within social political constructs United States. Similarly, editor's note shift discourses since departure from and/or most recent Latinx Latine marked with assumed inclusion positions. What work does this his 2009 text Cruising Utopia, imagine possibilities queer world makings center realities color? Each chapter book stand on its own relation what constitutes brownness, rather than feeling, situated "that feels [themselves] or recognizes others 40). I also find it important highlight some capture taken up several artistic performances challenging U.S. nationalistic rooted [End Page 171] whiteness. three nine, we brought into Cuban memory through cubania, defines "of Cubanness world" 24) Nilo Cruz's Two Sisters Piano Tania Bruguera's Burden Guilt. these two attempts tensions, contradictions, dichotomies binary those landscape island Cuba, more specifically, desires longings exist other imagining different alongside invested maintaining state existing system. read felt seven Luis Alfaro's Cuerpo Politizado reverbrance dream not achieved segments performance relates Latino affect, Los Angeles Chicano affect. there consistent reimagining agency artist's embody use render white inconspicuous sense Jotería Studies scholar, myself reflecting ways builds Chicana/Latina Black Feminisms foundation interpretations many he takes throughout book. vivid descriptions acts details might miss imperialism capitalism assertion thoughtfully constructed critique. Additionally, agentic practice inserts critique interpretation artist performance/s. Simultaneously, reader, multiple forms describes guilt, shame, freedom, liberation while at same time remembering disconnected harm and...