American Diva: Extraordinary, Unruly, Fabulous
American Diva: Extraordinary, Unruly, Fabulous
  • SKU: 9781324035305
  • BARCODE: 9781324035305
  • VENDOR: BooksCloud

American Diva: Extraordinary, Unruly, Fabulous - Hardcover

$34.99
 per 
In stock!
People are currently viewing this
Select The Options Above
Description

by Deborah Paredez (Author)

What does it mean to be a "diva"? A shifting, increasingly loaded term, it has been used to both deride and celebrate charismatic and unapologetically fierce performers like Aretha Franklin, Divine, and the women of Labelle. In this brilliant, powerful blend of incisive criticism and electric memoir, Deborah Paredez--scholar, cultural critic, and lifelong diva devotee--unravels our enduring fascination with these icons and explores how divas have challenged American ideas about feminism, performance, and freedom.

American Diva journeys into Tina Turner's scintillating performances, Celia Cruz's command of the male-dominated salsa world, the transcendent revival of Jomama Jones after a period of exile, and the unparalleled excellence of Venus and Serena Williams. Recounting how she and her mother endlessly watched Rita Moreno's powerhouse portrayal of Anita in West Side Story and how she learned much about being bigger than life from her fabulous Tía Lucia, Paredez chronicles the celebrated and skilled performers who not only shaped her life but boldly expressed the aspiration for freedom among brown, Black, and gay communities. Paredez also traces the evolution of the diva through the decades, dismayed at the mid-aughts' commodification and juvenilizing of its meaning but finding its lasting beauty and power.

Filled with sharp insights and great heart, American Diva is a spirited tribute to the power of performance and the joys of fandom.

Number of Pages: 256
Dimensions: 1.1 x 9 x 6.3 IN
Illustrated: Yes
Publication Date: May 21, 2024
Add to Cart Select The Options Above

Reviews

Exceptional Support and Clean Code

I was impressed by how fast the support team responded to my questions. Even as someone with basic coding knowledge, I found the theme incredibly easy to work with. The code is well-organized, and everything runs smoothly.

— Lucas M

Small Business Owner (Electronics Store)

Reliable Theme with Excellent Customer Service

After trying multiple themes, I finally chose Wokiee — and haven’t looked back. It’s reliable, modern, and easy to customize without coding. What impressed me most was their support team: fast, helpful, and willing to assist even with third-party issues. That level of service is rare!

— Sophie N

Owner of a Home Decor Store

Beautiful Design and Great Flexibility

Wokiee is hands down the best Shopify theme I’ve used. The design options are stunning and fully customizable. I was able to build a high-converting store without any external developers.

— Rachel L

Fashion Brand Founder

Top-Notch Support and Regular Updates

The customer support team is incredible — helpful, responsive, and very professional. They’ve helped me resolve everything from layout tweaks to app integrations. Plus, the theme is regularly updated with new features.

— David P

Shopify Consultant

Amazing Customization Options"!

Wokiee gave me full creative control over my store’s layout and visuals. The theme’s design blocks are so flexible that I could create something truly unique — without touching a single line of code.

— James T

Handmade Goods Seller

High-Quality Theme with Professional Code

You can tell Wokiee was built by pros. The code is clean and optimized for performance. No bloated features — just what you need. My store loads fast and looks great on all devices.

— Anna V

UI/UX Designer