Modernity and "Whiteness"

Explore the profound insights of Bolivar Echeverría in 'Modernity and Whiteness'. This important work delves into the relationship between capitalism and modernity, offering a critical perspective shaped by Latin American experiences. Echeverría argues that modernity is more than just capitalism; it embodies a unique historical phenomenon characterized by complex interactions between humanity and nature, alongside individual versus collective identities. Central to this discourse is the concept of 'blanquitud' or 'whiteness', which encapsulates a new form of identity emerging from capitalism's pervasive influence. While 'blanquitud' has ethnic connotations, Echeverría posits it more as an ethical and cultural identity represented by 'homo capitalisticus', a type of being that risks dominating and assimilating diverse identities worldwide. In a captivating conclusion, the author highlights the existence of 'alternative modernities', emphasizing the baroque as an intrinsic aspect of Latin American identity, resisting the Eurocentric narrative and celebrating cultural richness. This book is essential for anyone interested in post-colonial studies, critical theory, modern philosophy, and the nuances of identity in the context of globalization. It's a significant addition to your library on sociology, ethics, and cultural studies.

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781509533619
Year: 2019
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (UK)
Pages: 240

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781509533619
Year: 2019
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (UK)
Pages: 240


Description:
BolĂ­var EcheverrĂ­a was one of the leading philosophers and critical theorists in Latin America and his work on capitalism and modernity offers a distinctive account, informed by the experiences of Latin American societies, of the social and historical forces shaping the modern world For EcheverrĂ­a, capitalism and modernity do not coincide:  modernity is a long-term historical phenomenon that involved a new set of relations between human beings and nature and between the individual and the collective, while capitalism is a particular form in which modernity has been realized As Marx showed, capitalism is a mode of reproduction that involves the growing commodification of social life “ everything, even human labor power itself, is turned into a commodity. EcheverrĂ­a introduces the notion of blanquitud or śwhitenessť to capture the new form of identity that is brought into being by the totalizing and homogenizing character of capitalism While blanquitud includes certain ethnic features, it is not so much an ethnic category as an ethical and cultural one, referring to a type of human being, homo capitalisticus, which threatens to spread throughout the world, overcoming and integrating identities that might otherwise resist it But capitalism is not the only form of modernity “ there are alternative modernities. In the final part of the book EcheverrĂ­a explores the baroque as a characteristic of Latin American identity and sees it as a way of theatricalizing and transforming reality that takes some distance from Eurocentric paradigms and resists the homogenizing forces of capita