New Visions from Blind Spots: 10 year anniversary of El Punto Ciego, the Anthology of Argentine Visual Poetry

 

The line “while most of the texts are written in Spanish, all visual poems will be undoubtedly enjoyed by readers of any language” concludes the opening forward to El Punto Ciego, by one of its Editors: Doctorovich. It was a welcome reassurance for me, a non-Spanish speaker, as I began to peruse the pages of this anthology of visual poetry from Argentina, and it sets up this book from SDSU Press as a fantastically unique visual art reference tool as much as a reflective scholarly work. 

 

It’s an anthology that was nearly fated for non-existence, as the Editor details the story of commerce, illness, and even a robbery that transpired during its creation. Because of their enduring efforts, readers (and viewers) are given a wide-ranging overview of Argentinian experimental poetry, which may have forever remained a blind spot for those outside this very niche scene. The editors “...took into account the influence of technology on genre, starting from the discovery of rock paintings (petroglyphs from the Cave of Hands) to recent experiments with computers and networks” thus carving a large contextual lineage of visual aesthetics from denizens of this part of the world. “The game between literature and technology has always been there, just that for centuries the ‘Gutenberg Galaxy’ has dominated, and the technological matrix became invisible to the eyes of readers” - invisible indeed, and that which the publication of this book hopes to bring into focus for anyone interested in art history, Argentinian and Latin American arts, experimental poetry, design, and beyond.  

"Paralengua" by Fabio Doctorovich, 1995

 

Many of the pieces featured have a timeless quality to them - fitting right alongside any modern art or design canon. Yet for someone like me, whose eyes have limited exposure (perhaps extra blind spots) to this region’s aesthetics, each also carries something new, fresh, and inspiring. As much as one can learn from the essays and written text of the book, one can also learn and possibly even incorporate material as reference for their own visual artistic work – helping us all to continue to see our own blind spots more clearly. 

"Alphabet, lunar sentence I" by Leandro Katz, 1979

 

  

"124" by Juan Carlos Romero, 1997

Order the standard trade edition or special limited edition with fine glossy paper for you or the visual arts, photographer, graphic designer, experimental poetry lover or practitioner in your life. Begin to see more with El Punto Ciego.

"Xamine Todo Retene le Bõ" by Xul Solar, 1962

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Evan D. Shulman is a Senior Editor & Scholarly Communications and Digital Publishing Manager at SDSU Press. He is also a candidate for a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences (MALAS). 
Connect on Academia.edu or LinkedIn

Aesthetic and Film History in Fanny Daubigny's Proust in Black: Los Angeles / A Prussian Fiction

by Janesa Brosnan, SDSU Press Editorial and Marketing Associate

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If you like deep dives into cinema, then Proust in Black: Los Angeles, a Proustian Fiction, is for you! Proust in Black blends art and scene. By merging the works of Marcel Proust with Film Noir against the backdrop of Los Angeles, Fanny Daubigny gives a fascinating tale and accomplished analysis.  Daubigny explains the relationship eloquently, “In Proust’s preference for a cinema of intimacy, there is otherwise the representation of an aesthetics of persistence of memory against oblivion…which indefatigably transforms the diverse into the same, the individual into the whole, and silence into noise.”(Daubigny 24)

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Dissecting and expanding our understanding of Proust, the author transforms and connects the themes of his work with LA film. Daubigny mainly focuses on A la recherche du temps perdu or In Search of Lost Time, with inclusions of his other works.

Fanny Daubigny

As someone who grew up around the Los Angeles film industry, I loved the inclusion of the scenes of LA in the films discussed in the book. It created an intimate understanding of Daubigny’s and Proust’s work as the dark mystery and reminiscence is also contained in L.A. nights.

Note this special, full-color volume comes in two paperback editions: A deluxe, archival paper, paperback edition ➡️ Proust color special edition https://amzn.to/4vISaOt | $28.95 + shipping

 

... and our Proust regular trade paperback ➡️ https://amzn.to/4mJAAWe |  $19.95 + shipping

Proust in Black: Collision of Media

by Jessica Coburn

For the readers who are kept awake at night and unable to dream, and for the readers drawn to the detective story: Proust in Black is for you.

Proust in Black is a deeply thoughtful and intriguing work by Fanny Daubigny. Daubigny closely analyzes the works of Proust, not only dubbing his works as noir literature but also discussing them alongside and in conversation with the film noir of Europe and Los Angeles. 

"Thus with Proust there is no final moment of transfiguration as there is in the poetry of Dante, but rather a chiaroscuro of consciousness that leaves truth in the work suspended, and with it a taste for a kind of mystery" (Daubigny, 46) 

Proust in Black is a study of the detective story and the aesthetics of Proust and noir films. She delves into their themes dealing with night, dreaming, insomnia, sexuality, and even fear. The work beautifully discusses Proust's search for truth during times of cultural shifts and incertitude, while connecting it to the aesthetics of LA: its night, crime, and ground-zero for cultural movements. Working on many levels, Proust in Black offers a deep dive into the idea of noir media and what they unveil about the author and society in play. 

Mag GABBERT @ SDSU

 

Celebrate Women's History Month with Rosina Conde's Women on the Road!

by Jessica Coburn

"If you don't want to see me, then cover your eyes" (Conde, 20).

    SDSU Press presents Rosina Conde's Women on the Road in a new translation! In this republication, Nayeli Castaneda-Lechuga's translation brings to life Conde's powerful stories into English while still preserving Conde's natural voice and poetic writing. Conde is a talented Mexican writer, playwright, and poet and has earned many awards for her writing, including the Río Rita in 1990. The above quote captures the essence of Conde's work, unapologetic and expository. Conde's characters sing from each line, touching my heart as I devoured the pages. 

    Women on the Road is a collection of short stories that follow the lives, loves, and above all the sorrows of women throughout Mexico. Despite their hardships, Conde's characters are unashamedly angry at the life they are expected to endure and defy those standards. Reading Conde's stories, I was transfixed by her women- of their pain that despite experiencing a life very different from, I couldn't help but know. Her characters speak to the experience of every woman navigating girlhood to womanhood, facing an apathetic society and the fickle (even malicious) men who they encounter, or even unfortunately love. Conde also spotlights the expectation women face to give up their personhood, to pour everything into their partner until they are nothing but a husk: 

"they [men] suck away your time and your body and your ideas and your love and your nostalgia and your memories and your dreams and they brainwash you, telling you you're everything they'd been looking for. And they just suck and suck without giving anything in return" (Conde 27). 

    Each story is a heart laid raw, every page dripping with anguish to pull the heart of the reader. Whether it is a young woman knitting the sweater for her baby, a seamstress dealing with an incompetent employer, or a professor anguishing over the disappearance of her ethereal lover, Conde's dynamic characters encompass a greater telling of Mexican women's stories and how they overcome. Women on the Road is for the rebels and those who can't seem to catch a break. Fall into Conde's world and find solace there.  

Dropping on March 25th, to celebrate Women's History Month, get your copy on the SDSU Press Website and at the Book Launch event!

Staff Recommendation: Black Representation in the World of Animation by Darius S. Gainer

       By Isa Brandt

        As a child who grew up watching animated series, this is a book I have been waiting for someone to write. It's not news to anyone that the film industry has strong roots in causing harm to communities of color through propaganda masked as ‘humor,’ however, representation in animation remains an underresearched and underdiscussed topic.

        Thankfully, Darius S Gainer, a graduate from Ohio State University, provides us with a comprehensive record of the evolution of black characters in animated media. He covers everything from Disney’s early racist caricatures to Pixar’s Soul (2020) and brings attention to the fact that even though representation of fictional characters in media has grown in numbers, the animation industry still fails to accurately credit and welcome black animators. As Gainer says, “We are hungry for Brown and Black animations–behind and in front of the proverbial camera.”

Black Representation in the World of Animation (2021)

        While this book is a thoroughly researched academic critique of the film industry, it is also filled with the admiration and love from a true fellow animation fan. Gainer’s love for art is infectious, and this book stands as a celebration of art and the persistence of black animators in a predominantly white media industry. While some research-based novels can feel overwhelming, Gainer’s personal anecdotes and clear organization make it an educational yet inviting read.

        I would recommend this book for anyone, from a Media Studies student to someone who has never seen an animated film and just wants to be more informed. And the best part is–you’ll get some great show recommendations either way. 

Bringing Chicano Studies into California Classrooms is Ralph Inzunza's Border Citizen

By Ally Hurt

When people think of “Chicano studies,” it often implies a collegiate level. Nothing could be further from the truth; the Chicana/o/x is an identity—a pride and passion—that people of all ages celebrate. So why isn’t Chicano studies being stressed more in our California classrooms—the middle and high schools, especially when people of that identity make up a significant portion of the student body? 

Remedying this problem is Ralph Inzunza’s Border Citizen. Middle and high school teachers will delight in the way this book informs students of what it means to be a “border citizen”—where your existence blurs the line between two nationalities often at odds—in a genuine, personal way. This identity is the core of the entire novel and leaks into every facet of the problems the protagonist faces, whether it be in his town, at his school, or even in local politics. 

Border Citizen

This book is a great starting point for classroom discussion about the relationship and history between the United States and Mexico; one point of contention the protagonist, Carlos, faces is the odds between his American and Mexican identities. In Mexico, he is “too American” to fit in with his new classmates but in America, he is “too Mexican” to be accepted by the white people with power in his community. Navigating these racial differences is crucial to Carlos’ journey of fighting against injustice and making a change in the lives of the people around him and the town of Santa Ysabel. Relating this complicated relationship to real-life issues will help students understand the world—especially the United States—around them. 

All students in the Southern California school district—whether that be Poway or San Diego Unified—should read Border Citizen by Ralph Inzunza. It will inform them of the history of the land they live on and of the real struggles many people in their community still face. Students will learn about the people they live with and why they fight against injustice today; it will teach them how to make a change in the world they live in. 

Buy from Amazon 

USA Paperback: $19.95

ISBN: 978-1-938537-62-2

Roger Rosenblatt in the NYTimes Once Again -- On swimming, aging, memory and more ...

THE REVIEWS ARE IN! AMIR ISSAA's and CLARISSA CLO's THIS IS WHAT I LIVE FOR

New Lalo Alcaraz Collection Coming from Amatl Comix Xmas 2025!

All Hail SDSU PRESS’s Toki Lee Off to Fame Fortune (and a PhD) at UMASS Amherst, Fall 2025

 

SDSU Press's New Journal, WEST COAST REVIEW, is LIVE ... Check out our latest instagram posting here!

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Step Into The Ring With Oliver Mayer's The Hurt Business [+]PLUS

By Sophia Pomponio 

Looking for a transformative literary experience that will hit you where it hurts? Step into the viscerally alive world of The Hurt Business by Oliver Mayer—a dynamic collage of plays, interviews, criticism, and intimate glimpses into the playwright's life. This is not just a collection of scripts; it is an invitation into Mayer’s creative mind and personal journey.

Inside The Hurt Business, readers will find three of Mayer’s groundbreaking plays (Young Valiant, Blade to the Heat, Joy of the Desolate) alongside a treasure trove of essays, interviews, and photographs that reveal the man behind the words. It’s more than a book—it's an archive, offering layers upon layers of Mayer's exploration of eroticism, family dynamics, identity, and resilience.

 

                                                                   The Hurt Business

One of the most powerful concepts Mayer brings forward in The Hurt Business is Duende—the Spanish term describing a heightened state of emotion, authenticity, and soul. As Mayer writes on page 69, “Duende is what happens when the fight inside you matches the fight outside you. It’s what makes a performance unforgettable, when the cost of creating is felt by everyone in the room.” Throughout his works, Mayer channels Duende into each line of dialogue, each emotional conflict, allowing readers and audiences alike to feel the raw vitality that defines his style.

Through vivid storytelling and candid reflections, Mayer shows how his personal history bleeds into his art, creating works that can cut deep even on the page. Whether it’s the electric charge of forbidden love or the deep fissures within family ties, Mayer doesn’t shy away from the beautiful and brutal sides of life.

If you’re ready for a literary experience that will leave you breathless and craving more, The Hurt Business is your next must-read. Crack it open and discover Oliver Mayer—not just the playwright, but the lover, the thinker, and the man in full.

Buy From Amazon

USA PAPERBACK: $28.95

ISBN 10: 1879691841

ISBN 13:  ‎ 978-1879691841  

 

 

Tipai Ethnographic Notes: A Rare Look at Baja California’s Indigenous Past

By SAFIYA MOHAMED

San Diego State University Press proudly presents Tipai Ethnographic Notes: A Baja California Indian Community at Mid-Century, by William D. Hohenthal, Jr., edited by Thomas C. Blackburn with contributions from Margaret Langdon, David Kronenfeld, and Lynn Thomas. 

Tipai Ethnographic Notes

The story behind this book is as remarkable as its contents. While conducting research at the Bancroft Library, anthropologist Thomas C. Blackburn discovered an extensive set of manuscripts titled Field Observations I by William D. Hohenthal, Jr. Captivated by the depth and richness of Hohenthal’s fieldwork, Blackburn reached out to the author. Hohenthal, thrilled that his work had been rediscovered, provided Blackburn with the original manuscript along with field notes, sketches, photographs, maps, wordlists, and other vital materials — realizing their collective importance for future scholarship.

Born in 1919, William Dalton Hohenthal, Jr. grew up immersed in different cultures, thanks to his father's military postings. Experiences in the Philippines, China, Brazil, and across Europe sparked his lifelong interest in anthropology. After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and serving in World War II, Hohenthal returned to Berkeley to pursue graduate work in anthropology, receiving his Ph.D. in 1951. His early exposure to diverse Indigenous groups and his extensive field training shaped the extraordinary ethnographic sensitivity found in Tipai Ethnographic Notes.

The book itself is a comprehensive study. It not only documents Tipai life but also includes valuable information about the Paipai and Kiliwa peoples. Hohenthal’s work details their natural environment — climate, animal life, water sources, vegetation, and topography — alongside their social structures, clan territories, settlement patterns, and languages. Readers will find careful linguistic documentation, including many Tipai, Paipai, and Kiliwa words with an explained orthography system.

Hohenthal’s notes also delve into:

• Prehistory and history of the region, including discussions of pictographs, petroglyphs, and archaeological sites

• Subsistence practices such as agriculture, hunting, fishing, and food preparation

• Social organization, law, and governance

• Religious beliefs, ceremonies, and healing practices

• Ethnoscientific knowledge systems

Tipai Ethnographic Notes preserves a unique record of Indigenous life during a pivotal period of transition — offering an irreplaceable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the ethnology of Baja California, Indigenous studies, and the history of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.

Tipai Ethnographic Notes

Tipai Ethnographic Notes

Tipai Ethnographic Notes

Rich in observation, respectful in detail, and essential for a deeper understanding of the region’s cultural history, Tipai Ethnographic Notes is a major contribution to anthropology and Indigenous studies.

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USA PAPERBACK $27.95

ISBN 10: 0879191449

ISBN 13: 978-0879191443

Poetry Without Limits: Inside Barilli’s Voyage to the End of the Word

By SAFIYA MOHAMED

What happens when poets push language to its breaking point? Originally published in Italian in 1981, Renato Barilli’s Voyage to the End of the Word, now available in English, translated by Teresa Fiore and Harry Polkinhorn, offers a fascinating exploration of Italian experimental poetry during the explosive cultural moment of the 1960s and 70s. 

Voyage to the End of the Word

Barilli, an influential figure in aesthetics and literary criticism, places this experimental wave within a rich theoretical framework. Drawing on Saussure’s concept of the linguistic sign and Freud’s idea of pre-oedipal bliss, he maps out how poets stretched and reshaped language during a time of intense artistic innovation. The book doesn’t just offer critical analysis, it also includes a dynamic mini-anthology of poems that embody the era’s spirit. Readers encounter puns, playful visuals, neologisms, and daring formal experiments that expand the very idea of what poetry can be. Each piece captures the raw energy of a moment when words were stretched, bent, and reshaped with radical intent.

Voyage to the End of the Word

Voyage to the End of the Word

Voyage to the End of the Word

As Professor of the Phenomenology of Styles at the University of Bologna, Barilli has long been recognized for his deep and interdisciplinary approach to both art and literature. Voyage to the End of the Word stands as a vital bridge between theory and poetic practice, inviting readers into the dynamic world of language experimentation at a moment when art and politics were tightly intertwined.

This new translation brings Barilli’s insights to an English-speaking audience at a time when questions about the limits and possibilities of language feel as urgent as ever. For scholars, students, writers, and anyone curious about the experimental spirit of twentieth-century Italian literature, Voyage to the End of the Word offers both a masterclass in theory and a celebration of poetic play. This first-ever English edition opens up an important chapter of Italian literary history for a global audience and offers fresh inspiration for today’s writers and thinkers who continue to ask: how far can language go?

Buy From Amazon

USA $16.95

ISBN 10: 1879691493

ISBN 13: 978-1879691490