Diana Isabel Martínez Publishes Book, Rhetorics of Nepantla, Memory, and the Gloria Evangelina Anzaldúa Papers: Archival Impulses

In February 2022, Lexington Books published Rhetorics of Nepantla, Memory, and the Gloria Evangelina Anzaldúa Papers: Archival Impulses by Diana Isabel Martínez, associate professor of communication at Seaver College.

According to the publisher, Rhetorics of Nepantla, Memory, and the Gloria Evangelina Anzaldúa Papers “explores the intersection of Chicana/o/x studies, Latina/o/x studies, archival studies, and public memory by examining the archival homes of cultural critic Gloria Anzaldúa.” Martínez illustrates the importance of engaging the archives of women of color through a thorough discussion of how the archive of Gloria Anzaldúa, poet and scholar of Chicana cultural theory, feminist theory, and queer theory, “mirrors” her philosophies and way of being.

“Diana Isabel Martínez’s translation of Anzaldúa’s theories and centering of marginalized voices is an especially significant contribution to current scholarship,” reviewer Teresita Garza writes. “Most importantly, Martínez focuses on an Anzaldúan methodology for understanding the voices of marginalized communities through the performative, narrative storytelling, and sharing of experiences that curates the rhetorical space in-between the creative process and the memorialization of its tangible lived presence.”

“I was introduced to Anzaldúa's work as an undergraduate, and she has always inspired me,” Martínez shares. “To have the ability to immerse myself in the materials was a very personal experience, and I felt so honored to interact with her archives.”

Diana Isabel Martínez, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Communication in the Communication Division at Seaver College. Her research explores physical and psychological borderlands, a term coined by Gloria Anzaldúa to describe spaces of social, political, and cultural struggle. Her recent published research has appeared in journals such as Western Journal of Communication, Communication Quarterly, and The Journal of Multimodal Rhetorics as well as edited books. She co-edited the monograph Latina/o Communication Studies: Theories, Methods, and Practice.

To learn more about Rhetorics of Nepantla, Memory, and the Gloria Evangelina Anzaldúa Papers: Archival Impulses, visit the Lexington Books website.