'AmeRícan' by Tato Laviera: A Puerto Rican in New York

Seminar paper from the year 2003 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7 (A-), University of Tubingen (New Philology, Anglistics), course: HS: Latino/Latina Literature in the US, language: English, abstract: The poem 'AmeRícan' by Tato Laviera is part of the poet's latest collection published in 1985. This work is, like his previous publications 'Enclave' (1981) and 'La carreta made a U-turn' (1979) considered as an outstanding example of 'Nuyorican' poetry, that is to say poetry written by Puerto Ricans living in New York. When trying to understand the poem, it is necessary to understand the circumstances in which it was written. Therefore, a description of the artistic and personal environment of Tato Laviera will be given and the Nuyorican movement will be examined. On this basis, the language and structure of the poem will be studied in detail, concentrating on vocabulary, bilingualism, the title and rhythm. In the third part, the themes and topics of the poem will be analysed with the help of Juan Flores' concept of the 'four definitive moments in the awakening of Nuyourican consciousness'1. Finally, all these aspects will be brought together in a conclusion in which the attempt of pinpointing Tato Laviera's view on Puerto Rico, America and his own identity will be made.