Criticism 1: Problems Of Representation

What is representation? For most of my life I’ve always considered the meaning of the word to be a good thing. As a girl it was natural for me to gravitate towards characters that represented myself and my culture. Dora the Explorer, Josefina from American Girl Doll or even the famous Idol, Selena. What qualifies someone to be considered a representative for a certain group? I remember being little and overhearing negative opinions over Jennifer Lopez (a Puerto Rican) being chose to play Selena, who is Mexican. All voices on the matter reverted back to the same subject: proper representation. 

Representation may be defined as the action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone. In other words, representation is the authority of speaking for others. With this also comes the task of having to re-present one’s culture as an art or philosophy onto those unfamiliar to such presentation. Representatives of a group are assumed to have the authority to represent that group accurately. This can also make us question, who gave them that authority? What are the ethical responsibilities of being considered a representative? It’s inevitable for anyone in a spotlight position to avoid social critiques. The problems of representation can arise in unpredictable forms. In the United States, Julia Alvarez is considered to be a representative for Latina/o’s and has found herself to be pushed into that narrative. She has written works that offer a diverse lens into Latino culture. She has created stories that offer unique experiences and rich characters. However, as they say, you can’t please everyone.

 “Let us return to In The Time Of The Butterflies, which Gonzalez Echevarria condemns on the basis of insurmountable difference. (Alvarez could never understand a Dominican woman) Gonzalez Echevarria would apparently insist that the impossibility of “understanding, much less translating “. Dominicans renders any such efforts, futile, if not downright imperialistic.” 

“Speaking for Others: Problems of Representation” in On Latinidad: U.S. Latino Literature and the Construction of Ethnicity (Marta Caminero Santangelo, 2007)

Julia Alvarez received criticism being accused of misrepresenting herself for speaking on experiences that she herself cannot understand. The difference is this; Julia‘s “first world” positioning, gives her a particular kind of privilege that greatly differs from the perspective of a native “third world” Dominican. Gonzalez Echevarria stands with his opinion, the Dominican Americans should not try to represent Dominicans, even though Dominican Americans are technically connected to the Dominican Republic, non the less. So where do we draw the line on when a writer can or cannot speak on matters, especially those with cultural connections. The message received from the critiques are loud and clear, “speak for yourself” is observed as a faintly polite way of saying, “sit down and shut up”. 

Julia Alvarez has first-hand experienced the evolving definition of an American identity. Throughout her successful career, she has grappled with the challenges of racism and discrimination from both ends of the dominant culture, and her native culture as well. Because to be honest, she very well could have self-destructed from the negative criticism and succumb to the identity crisis with the ongoing theme of identity. Imposter syndrome could have taken over while simply trying to embrace her Cultural Hybridity. Social critique aside I think it’s great Alvarez was able to recognize the importance of diverse representation. There could be a little girl in the Dominican Republic, who inspires to be a famous writer in the U.S. and could look up to Alvarez for representation. After all, when kids have dreams, they look to those who they themselves can identify with. Representation allows the audience to connect beyond the stereotypes and promote Latinx empowerment.