Born in Manhattan and raised in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, Ivette Romero-Cesareo has always considered herself to be an islander. Her interest in exploring her family’s diverse Caribbean and trans-Atlantic roots, led her to reroute the path of her doctoral studies in French literature (at Cornell University) towards a comparative exploration of Caribbean literatures and cultures. She is professor of Spanish and Director of Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Marist College, where she teaches Latin American literature, cultures, and cinema. Her research interests include Caribbean testimonial narrative, women’s studies, and visual arts. Her work has been published in journals such as Anales del Caribe, Callaloo, Mango Season, Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism, and Sargasso. She has co-edited two volumes with Lisa Paravisini-Gebert, Women at Sea: Travel Writing and the Margins of Caribbean Discourse (2001) and Displacements and Transformations in Caribbean Cultures (2008). Currently, she is writing a book on aesthetic responses to AIDS in the Caribbean.
Lisa Paravisini-Gebert works in the fields of literature and cultural studies, specializing in the multidisciplinary, comparative study of the Caribbean. Growing up in her native Puerto Rico, she became fascinated by the many cultural connections between Caribbean peoples despite our different histories and languages and has made that the subject of her research and teaching. She is based in the Hispanic Studies Department at Vassar College, where she is holds the Randolph Distinguished Professor Chair, and from 2009 to 2011 will direct the Environmental Studies Program. She is also a participating faculty member in the Programs in Latin American Studies, International Studies, and Women’s Studies at Vassar. She is the author of a number of books, among them Phyllis Shand Allfrey: A Caribbean Life (1996), Jamaica Kincaid: A Critical Companion (1999), Creole Religions of the Caribbean (2003, with Margarite Fernández Olmos), and most recently, Literatures of the Caribbean (2008).
Lisa has co-edited a number of collections of essays, most notably Sacred Possessions: Vodou, Santería, Obeah, and the Caribbean (1997) and Women at Sea: Travel Writing and the Margins of Caribbean Discourse (2001). Her most recent edited volume, Displacements and Transformations in Caribbean Cultures, has just been published by the University Press of Florida. Her critical editions of texts by Caribbean women writers include Phyllis Allfrey’s The Orchid House (1997) and It Falls Into Place: The Short Stories of Phyllis Shand Allfrey (2004). Her articles and literary translations have appeared in Callaloo, the Journal of West Indian Literature, the Jean Rhys Review, the Journal of Caribbean Literature, Obsidian, NWIG, Research in African Literatures and the Revista Mexicana del Caribe, among others.
Acabo de ver dos noches corridas la brillante presentacion de “Delirio Habanero” del finado dramaturgo Cubano Alberto Pedro en el Teatro Repertorio Espanol de la ciudad de Nueva York. Lo menciono en esta espacio porque ha surgido en mi una preocupacion intensisima de la falta de camaraderia de los Latinos i.e. HISPANO PARLANTES en los Estados Unidos. La hospitalidad tan presente en “nuestras culturas” tanto continental Suramericana como Caribena es a menudo no existente. Los trabajos de ambas Yvette Romero Cesareo y Lisa Paravisini-Gebert, los cuales no conocia y de lo cual me alegro inmensamente empezar a explorar sientan la base para una labor de hospitaliadad y “agape” entre nuestras culturas Latinoamericanas que estamos iniciando en la comunidad de fe Cristiana en los Estados Unidos, especialmente en Nueva York. Quisiera saber si alguien mas interesado o que ya haya iniciado labor en esta area que si se puede o pueden comunicarse conmigo lo hagan al pzez7@hotmail.com (Pedro Perez-Ortiz. Por esto estoy profundamente agradecido. Carinos a todos.
By: Pedro Perez-Ortiz on October 16, 2011
at 8:09 am
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WEBSITE, MINEDGA ARCHILLA-MCNAMEE,ST.PETERSBURG,FL./OLD-TOWN, ALEXANDRIA,VA.
By: Mrs.Minedga Archilla-McNamee on October 21, 2011
at 1:54 pm
Wonderful blog – from a kindred spirit
Playwright & Journalist
Juliet Gilkes Romero
By: Juliet Gilkes Romero on October 31, 2011
at 3:06 pm
We are very glad you like it.
Lisa
By: lisaparavisini on October 31, 2011
at 7:35 pm
Dear Lisa Paravisini-Gebert, I´m a big fan of your blog and follow your entries, especially because I´m a Puertorican living in Madrid. I´m a grad student in the Complutense, and I´m doing my dissertation on Caribbean Theatre. I´m want to thank you for this wonderful blog. I´m writing to you this time because I want to send you a flyer of an event we are organizing in Madrid for the difusion of latinamerican theatre in Spain. I would love to send you the information through email, but I don´t find a way of sending it to you. We have a profile in facebook, called manodeobra teatro where you can find the information on this week´s event.
I´m writing you from my facebook account so maybe it would be easier to get in touch with me in order to send you the complete information as an attachment.
Thank you in advance and for your blog,
Virginia Escobar
By: Virginia Escobar on November 13, 2011
at 8:19 am
YO discrepo respetuosamente de la opinion de don Pedro, arriba en lo concerniente a la hipotetica hospitalidad insular, borricua.
Ese mito es de antanho…Como llamarle a nuestra isla de concreto/asfalto, PUERTO RUIDO, la Isla del Encanto…i ni hablar/escribir sobre jibaros i demas…
Ambos temas discutidos en mi blog puertorrikenhadasinmostaza…Suerte i exito.
By: Antigonum Cajan on November 13, 2011
at 7:10 pm
Greetings from San Juan, Puerto Rico:
Congratulations for your great work in Repeating Islands.
I am a co-founder and administrator of RICO PUERTO RICO and would like to establish contact with you about an important upcoming anniversary in Puerto Rico, in connection with someone who would be available to be interviewed (in connection to a recent post you made on this subject).
Could you please write to me at:
matanzo@post.harvard.edu
Thank you. Best regards,
Hans Perl Matanzo
By: Hans Perl-Matanzo on November 18, 2011
at 3:56 pm
Hi Lisa, just stumbled upon your blog its fantastic. I’m a photographer and have been doing a lot of work on a Vodou project in Haiti the past few years I will be in Cuba in Jan. and would love to exchange any tips you might have on seeking out santeria in Cuba. You can see some of my Haiti work here: http://neilbrandvold.com/
Look forward to hearing from you.
-Neil
nbrandvold@gmail.com
By: Neil on November 21, 2011
at 3:38 pm
address to send phisical cd
By: larrymalu on December 9, 2011
at 2:10 pm
Dear Lisa Paravisini-Gebert, please send me a contact email for you… Thank you in advance.
By: Roberto "Mukaro" Borrero on December 12, 2011
at 8:51 am
Hola Puerto Rico!
http://davecastaldo.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/hola-puerto-rico/
=)
Saludos desde Suecia,
/Dave
By: davecastaldo on December 14, 2011
at 1:36 am
Ayer 12/13/2011 en el programa de Silverio Perez Radio Isla a las 3 PM de Lunes a Viernes se invite a una persona diciendo que hubo un error en lo respecta al Homenaje de Tite Curet del Banco Popular ellos dijeron que habia una cancion de Genaro Alvarez y que la cancion no era de Tite Curet…podra haber un error y que el Banco Popular no lo dice me gustaria saber cual es el error…Gracias
PS: era algo tambien del titulo de CD o DVD que segun ellos Sono, Sono es de Genaro…
Gracias mil espero su contestacion si es possible…
By: Roberto Lopez on December 14, 2011
at 3:15 pm
I really like your blog and your work esp what you have written and shared about Haiti. I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger award here.
http://aspoonfulofsuga.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/my-rise-to-power-begins-my-nomination-for-the-versatile-blogger-award/
By: mrmarymuthafuckingpoppins on January 10, 2012
at 5:23 pm
Thank you so much. That is so very kind.
Lisa
By: lisaparavisini on January 10, 2012
at 7:37 pm
Saludos Ivette,
Artist/photographer ADÁL and photography collector and architect Luis Gutierrez will hold a dialog entitled, “Double Vision” on the state of photography in Puerto Rico to take place at the Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico on Wednesday, February 8 at 6:30 P.M. A book launching of ADÁL’s new book entitled, “Falling Eyelids” will follow the presentation. More information at Art Slant Worldwide: http://www.artslant.com/ew/events/show/199621-double-visionfalling-eyelids-a-lecture-and-book-launching-with-adl-and-luis-gutierrez
By: ADÁL on January 30, 2012
at 4:29 pm
New Play about Hemingway
THE SAFARI
by Lucia Adams ©
In 1934 a famous American author fulfills a lifelong dream to go on a hunting safari in East Africa. Ernest Hemingway, accompanied by his girlfriend Jane Mason, has retained Baron Bror von Blixen, former husband of Isak Dinesen, as his white hunter.
Hemingway, brims with blood lust to kill a male lion in Act One, the ultimate personal achievement. Bror Blixen, a poor aristocrat, lives in the bush and must hunt to earn a living disdaining the publicity hound writer. In Act Two Hemingway is revealed as a coward, somewhat gender-conflicted, despite all the braggadocio and posturing in the previous act. He breaks the game laws to avoid being attacked by a lion. He and Blixen agree that they will say Hemingway shot and killed a lion, though Blixen, always anxious to please a client, actually did. The baron also utilizes his double cot to entertain Jane. In Act Three, after losing a boxing match to Blixen, Hemingway breaks down and reveals his true self, his self doubts, his fears, and the lie he has been living.
The play takes place in a 24- hour period in the African bush near the Serengeti with Kilimanjaro clearly in the distance. The scenarios are similar to those described in The Snows of Kilimanjaro and The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber , fictionalized accounts of Hemingway’s personal obsessions. The Safari is a language-drive tour de force, using actual spoken and written words of Hemingway, Blixen and Mason. Juma, the fourth character in the play, a Kenyan game scout and gun bearer provides another dimension to the colonialist safari experience. Further information: 312-640-9117; lgadams1@gmail.com
By: Lucia Adams on February 7, 2012
at 11:55 am
Saludos Mi Gente,
Great to find you! This work resonates deeply with my artistic vision as a choreographer. I look forward to connecting more with this community. I already recognize some friends who have posted here. I am writing about my research in Dominican Gaga/Rara and performance ethnography for a Masters of Fine Arts program and would be grateful for any literature, dissertations or articles you might point me to. ¡Ashé!
By: Sita Frederick/Areytos Performance Works on February 17, 2012
at 9:46 pm
Thanks for your wonderful blog! Great work!!
Here’s a petition I think would be worth commenting on if you can; please help us spread the word about this through this blog! Here’s the deal:
The THA (Tobago’s House of Assembly, the local government body in the island of Tobago) has plans to cut down an ancient ceiba (silk-cotton tree) alleging it’s undermining the road next to it (Northside Road, in Runnemede), which is absurd; that portion of the road can easily be deviated or re-routed.
The petition’s link is as follows: http://www.change.org/petitions/tobago-house-of-assembly-reconsider-any-plans-to-destroy-the-runnemede-silk-cotton-tree
Thanks for any help you can give these people who are trying their best to save this work of wonder from nature!!!
Best,
taí
By: tfdez on February 27, 2012
at 9:28 am
Hi, I recently completed an article with Featureworld in January 2012 regarding a shark taking my camera from me. I accidentally used a photo belonging to Steven Anderson of http://www.stevenandersonphotography,com breaking a copyright infringement. I accept full liability for this error Featureworld were not to blame, however can you please arrange for your article to be updated with the correct details on the sharks mouth/head shot only to be accredited to Steven Anderson or please remove this image from your article straight away. Your assistance in this matter would be very much appreciated.
Russ Easton
By: russ easton on February 28, 2012
at 6:02 pm
Greetings:
I am very excited to find out about your work and have information to share with you. Please check out my website: http://www.womenofcolorday.com which has some of the history of March 1st as Women of Color Day which was founded 27 years ago by the now inactive National Institute for Women of Color of which I was a board member for 11 years. After NIWC ceased operation, I established the International Association for Women of Color Day to promote Women of Color Day observations. To date, it has been observed in 23 states and 5 other countries. On that site, you will also see information about my book, “The Constructive Extermination of Women of Color: Consequences of Perpetual Socio-Economic Marginalization.” which includes 16 essays from my Women of Color column in blackcommentator.com. I am also a singer, songwriter and bandleader of The Jazz Generation with 11 CDs. My other books are poems, stories and essays.. Here are some additional webpages with related information: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Women-of-Color-and-Our-Allies/163848467029530
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100003018176564
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlMaHjQw2_U
http://www.cdbaby.com/Search/c3V6YW5uZSBicm9va3M d/%30
http://www.gigmasters.com/jazz-band/Suzanne-Brooks-The-Jazz-Generation/
http://www.ercregistry.com/index.a4d?action=search.mini
FYI: My great grandmother was born and raised in St. Thomas, USVI. I lived with her and my great grandfather for the first 4 years of my life which I am sure is responsible for my love of islands. She also spoke Spanish, as do I. So much to share. I hope we can start a lasting dialogue. My dissertation, some of which I included in the bookm is “Racism and Sexism in Higher Education: The Autoethnograph of an Activist.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Brooks
Sacramento, CA
By: Suzanne Brooks on March 12, 2012
at 12:32 am
Hello, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been following your blog for some time now, and I’ve nominated you as “Versatile Blogger”s.
By: Margaret Mair on March 16, 2012
at 12:35 pm
A newfound friend who was advertising a reunion from our mutual high school subscribes to your website. As I browse, it occurs to me that this site is very artistic, spiritual and insightful. Therefore, I would like to become part of your community via email and/or FB. Muchisimas Gracias!
By: Carmen J. Gonzalez on April 7, 2012
at 1:19 pm
This is a great blog. Would you be interested in reviewing/featuring the new Caribbean anthology Beyond Sangre Grande from TSAR Publications.Could you send me your contact information at inquiries@tsarbooks.com
By: TSAR Publications on April 13, 2012
at 12:25 pm
http://www.puertoricocity.com
Puerto Rico City, a novel, published.
By: matzbravo on April 22, 2012
at 5:04 pm
Thank You for the information. I am a newborn baby writer. I write in Spanish.
Also I want to share with you my new book. I finished and published at barnes and noble as a ebook.
If you want to see go to
http://www.barnesandnoble.com
The title is Un Regalo Secreto.
The author Nelly Nazario
The story is about a girl call Catalina who recently moved to a small town in where live an strange woman that nobody knows anything. The woman is excluded from society except for the recent arrival girl Catalina. Between both creates a strong bond of friendship. Catalina receives from enigmatic woman a very peculiar gift that will not only help her purpose in life and but that reveal their destination.
I really appreciate found your blog because have great information to helped me a lot to grow up in the letters world.
I love the Spanish but I hope someday writing my books in English too.
By: nazarioartpainting on April 29, 2012
at 6:56 pm
I’ve noticed several book reviews on your entertaining website. I’d like to bring to your attention my collection of short stories, Calypso: Stories of the Caribbean:
Love and loss, sex and skullduggery, conquests, failures, foibles – these are the elements of calypso, the stories in song that personify the islands of the West Indies. These 15 stories seek to entertain, amuse, and poke fun at everything from inept scoundrels, errant spouses, and star-crossed lovers to those of us who think we have a corner on reality.
You can find out more about it on my website http://richarddaybell.wordpress.com/calypso-2/ or at
http://www.amazon.com/author/richarddaybell
I hope you’ll be interested in taking a look. Thanks.
By: Richard Daybell on May 2, 2012
at 11:11 am
Great blog! Would you be interested in hosting a Caribbean Author as part of a Virtual Book Tour? Author Giftus R John is hosting his first VBT starting this week. You may check it out at http://www.giftus.wordpress.com/events and let us know.
By: Savvy Virtuals on May 14, 2012
at 8:38 pm