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Critique of Cultural Appropriation in Literature

May 8, 2025

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Overview

  • Author: Myriam Gurba
  • Date: December 12, 2019
  • Platform: Tropics of Meta
  • Focus: Critique of Jeanine Cummins' book "American Dirt"

Main Points

Criticism of "American Dirt"

  • Gurba describes "American Dirt" as a poor representation of Mexican experiences.
  • Accuses the author, Jeanine Cummins, of cultural appropriation.
  • Critique centers on using Mexican stereotypes and pandering to a white audience.

Issues Highlighted

  1. Stereotyping:

    • Overuse of Mexican clichés (e.g., Latin lover, suffering mother, stoic manchild).
    • Unrealistic portrayal of Mexican culture and experiences.
  2. Cultural Misrepresentation:

    • Cummins, a non-Mexican, is criticized for misrepresenting Mexican realities.
    • Book assumed to cater to an uninformed audience with a simplistic good vs bad narrative.
  3. Authenticity and Sensibility:

    • Fails to convey genuine Mexican sensibility.
    • Criticism that Cummins did not respect or understand the cultural context.

Personal Response

  • Gurba expresses outrage at the portrayal of Mexican experiences as "trauma porn".
  • She emphasizes the importance of authentic voices in literature about marginalized communities.
  • Describes Cummins' work as a "Frankenstein of a book".

Broader Cultural Commentary

  • Highlights issues in the publishing industry regarding representation and voice.
  • Calls for recognition of authentic Mexican voices and stories in literature.

Specific Complaints

  • Cummins' character Lydia shocked by realities that would not surprise an actual Mexican.
  • The portrayal of the US as a sanctuary contrasts with Mexican "hell".

Conclusion

  • Gurba criticizes the commodification of Mexican struggles for a predominantly white, US audience.
  • The article serves as a call to action for more inclusive and accurate storytelling in the literary world.

Additional Notes

  • Gurba's critique was initially rejected by a feminist magazine for being too negative.
  • The article questions the ethics of representation in fiction, especially by authors outside the culture they write about.