Sense of Brown

The Sense of Brown is a book by José Esteban Muñoz that explores the sense of brownness and being among Latinx individuals, arguing for a sense of brownness that is not fixed within the racial and national contours of Latinidad. It demonstrates how the sense of brown serves as the basis for other ways of knowing and being in the world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 02 October 2020
Publisher: Duke University Press

The Sense of Brown, penned by José Esteban Muñoz, delves into the profound exploration of brownness and its multifaceted implications. This remarkable treatise serves as Muñoz's most direct engagement with queer Latinx studies, offering a profound and thought-provoking perspective. Muñoz, in the final stages of his life, completed this book, which sheds light on the diverse artistic expressions of playwrights Ricardo Bracho and Nilo Cruz, artists Nao Bustamante, Isaac Julien, and Tania Bruguera, as well as the iconic singer José Feliciano. Through meticulous analysis, Muñoz advocates for a notion of brownness that transcends the confines of racial and national identities within Latinidad. Rather than focusing solely on individual brown subjects, Muñoz presents a holistic understanding of brownness as it manifests within the brown commons—a vibrant lifeworld, a queer ecology, and a collective form of existence. By delving into the intricacies of minoritarian affect, ethnicity as a structure of feeling, and the emergence of brown feelings within art and performance, Muñoz vividly illustrates how the sense of brown serves as a foundational framework for alternative modes of knowing and being in the world. This profound work not only enriches our understanding of brownness but also expands our horizons, fostering a deeper appreciation for the diverse tapestry of human experiences.

Weight: 338g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478011033