Desi Divas: Activism in South Asian American Cultural Performances is the product of five years of field research with progressive activists associated with the School for Indian Languages and Cultures (SILC); South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT); the feminist dance collective Post Natyam; and the grassroots feminist political organization South Asian Sisters. Christine L. Garlough explores how traditional cultural forms may be critically appropriated by marginalized groups and used as rhetorical tools to promote deliberation and debate; spur understanding and connection; broaden political engagement; and advance particular social identities. Within this framework she examines how these performance activists advocate a political commitment to both justice and care; to both deliberative discussion and deeper understanding. To consider how this might happen in diasporic performance contexts; Garlough weaves together two lines of thinking. One grows from feminist theory and draws upon a core literature concerning the ethics of care. The other comes from rhetoric; philosophy; and political science literature on recognition and acknowledgment. This dual approach is used to reflect upon South Asian American womens performances that address pressing social problems related to gender inequality; immigration rights; ethnic stereotyping; hate crimes; and religious violence. Case study chapters address the relatively unknown history of South Asian American rhetorical performances from the early 1800s to the present. Avant-garde feminist performances by the Post Natyam dance collective appropriate womens folk practices and Hindu goddess figures make rhetorical claims about hate crimes against South Asian Americans after 9/11. In Yoni ki Bat (a South Asian American version of The Vagina Monologues) a progressive performer transforms aspects of the Mahabharata narrative to address issues of sexual violence; such as incest and rape. Throughout the volume; Garlough argues that these performers rely on calls for acknowledgment that intertwine calls for justice and care. That is; they embed their testimony in traditional cultural forms to invite interest; reflection; and connection.
#3745034 in eBooks 2013-02-19 2013-03-06File Name: B00BJC5HGU
Review
52 of 52 people found the following review helpful. Beautiful Shawls GaloreBy Fairbanks Reader - Bonnie BrodyI love knitting shawls and I love looking at pictures of shawls that give me new ideas. The shawls in this book are just splendid. Chapter one goes over size; style and yarn; how to wear your shawl; choosing your yarn. Chapter two describes shawl techniques: the top-down triangle; other triangles; semicircles; crescents; and working side to side; cast-ons and bind-offs for shawls; finishing tips; what to do when its finished. The rest of the book consists of patterns divided into those with color; lace shawls; simple shawls and textured shawls.In the color section my favorite shawl is the Salter Path; a full-circle shawl adapted to create a semicircle. "Inspired by waves washing over the rocks of a tide pool; the color changes in the finished shawl are visually striking; as is the transition from garter stitch to lace."The lace shawls are my favorites. There are several Id like to knit in this section. One of them is Brome; a greenish shawl; that is intricate yet supposedly a quick knit. I love Spathe; which is a large triangle shawl in a dark teel with shadowed colors.Naturally I am drawn to the Simplicity section. I like to challenge myself sometimes but there are times when I like things simple. The Heath shawl is comprised of garter stitch and dropped stitches and knit with a self-striping sock yarn. The colors "remind me of wildflowers on the English heath." The Bryusa shawl is worked from the top down and is knit with alpaca sock yarn in changing colors. It utilizes a two-color slip-stitch patterning at the bottom edge. Lindsay is the shawl on the cover of the book and I can see why they chose this to adorn it. The designer; Tabetha Hedrick; "was inspired by the legacy of pioneer women in the Rocky Mountains when she designed this shawl; which has a sweet; vintage appeal and streamlined patterning." It uses two colors of sock yarn and lace bands. Maedwe is a garter stitch shawl :edged with short-row ruffles for a simple; striking accessory." It looks simple; yet elegant in a greenish yellow colorway. I love the Elven shawl which; because of its wings appears easy to wear. "A leaf motif edges a stockinette border; all worked in a self-striping sock yarn." This shawl is well-suited for handpainted yarnsThe next section of patterns is Texture. I like the Glen Lennox shawl with a cabled edge; knit in a white worsted weight yarn. The Return Journey is a cabled shawl with I-cord edges. It is stunning in a gray-blue hue.I highly recommend this book for shawl knitters or for anyone who has ever wanted to knit a shawl. I also recommend the Craftsy workshop on shawls conducted by Laura Nelkin. This book; along with the Nelkin workshop will make you an accomplished shawl knitter.21 of 21 people found the following review helpful. Nice book but could be betterBy CustomerThe shawls in this book are beautiful. Some are quite challenging and others not so. Yarns required are mostly DK or worsted weight. Patterns are well written; but details of lace are all chart based. If you cant read charts or prefer not to this is not a book for you.I do have one negative comment. I originally purchased the E book and that is a failure. Since the lace is in charts you cannot increase the size of the chart enough to read it. Links to online charts are not available. I had to purchase the print version of the book to be able to read any of the charts.16 of 17 people found the following review helpful. More PossibilitiesBy Rebecca H. AugustineAs one may have noticed; shawls have made a comeback and are currently among the hottest accessories one can acquire -- whether by purchase or; even better; by making them yourself. As far as portability of ones project; shawls are on a par with socks; unlike socks; you only need to knit one of a kind! Many shawls (or "shawlettes") need only one (or two) skeins; so your budget isnt overly strained; also; a one or two-skein project is a great "stash buster." That being said; "Free Spirit Shawls" is another wonderful resource; whether you want to make a project from scratch; use up some of your stash; or even adapt ideas for your own designs. There are hip; young designers featured that build on traditional designs and add new twists of their own. Now; my only dilemma is ... which one do I try first?