The Dissidence of Reinaldo Arenas

Focusing on the didactic nature of the work of Reinaldo Arenas, this book demonstrates the Cuban writers influence as public pedagogue, mentor, and social activist whose teaching on resistance to normative ideologies resonates in societies past, present, and future. Through a multidisciplinary approach bridging educational, historiographic, and literary perspectives, The Dissidence of Reinaldo Arenas illuminates how Arenass work remains a cutting-edge source of inspiration for todays audiences, particularly LGBTQI readers. It shows how Arenass aesthetics contain powerful insights for exploring dissensus whether in the context of Cuba, broader Pan-American and Latinx-U.S. queer movements of social justice, or transnational citizenship politics. Carefully dissecting Arenass themes against the backdrop of his political activity, this book presents the writers poetry, novels, and plays as a curriculum of dissidence that provides models for socially engaged intellectual activism.